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Other Systems (other + system)
Selected AbstractsProportional Intensity Models Robustness with Overhaul IntervalsQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2006Shwu-Tzy Jiang Abstract The class of semi-parametric proportional intensity (PI) models applies to recurrent failure event modeling for a repairable system with explanatory variables (covariates). Certain repairable systems (e.g. aircraft and electrical power generating plants) experience a substantial period of downtime due to performing maintenance (i.e. major overhaul) at scheduled intervals or following a major failure. Other systems (e.g. emergency power units) experience extended periods of non-operating dormancy. These discontinuities in observation time have potential effects on the accuracy of estimation for covariate effects, particularly where calendar time is the life metric. This paper examines the robustness of two PI methods (Prentice,Williams,Peterson gap time (PWP-GT) and Andersen,Gill (AG)) as a function of the overhaul or dormancy duration. The PWP-GT model proves to perform well for sample size of 60 (30 per level of a class covariate), constant or moderately decreasing/increasing rate of occurrence of failures, and relative overhaul (dormancy) durations less than half of the immediately preceding interval between failures. The AG model performs consistently well for a small sample size of 20 (10 per level of a class covariate) for homogeneous Poisson processes, regardless of the relative overhaul (dormancy) duration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hemoglobin-based Red Blood Cell SubstitutesARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 9 2004Thomas Ming Swi Chang Abstract:, Polyhemoglobin is already well into the final stages of clinical trials in humans with one approved for routine clinical use in South Africa. Conjugated hemoglobin is also in ongoing clinical trials. Meanwhile, recombinant Hb has been modified to modulate the effects of nitric oxide. Other systems contain antioxidant enzymes for those clinical applications that may have potential problems related to ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Other developments are based on hemoglobin-lipid vesicles and also the use of nanotechnology and biodegradable copolymers to prepare nanodimension artificial red blood cells containing hemoglobin and complex enzyme systems. [source] Design aspects of satellite,cellular hybrid wireless systemsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING, Issue 2 2002Tamer ElBatt Abstract In this paper we investigate various issues related to the design of satellite,cellular hybrid systems. First, we review the fundamental problems of channel partitioning and call admission/assignment. Second, we study the impact of different frequency reuse constraints, in both layers, on the optimum channel partitioning. Third, we investigate, analytically and via simulation, the effect of reducing the cell size. We emphasize the blocking-forced termination probabilities trade-off for pure cellular and satellite,cellular hybrid systems. Accordingly, an optimization problem with respect to the cell size is formulated. Finally, we search for the optimum dynamic call re-assignment policy that improves the system capacity at the expense of the complexity associated with tearing down a connection in one system and setting-up an alternative one in the other system. For a small hybrid system, we characterized the optimum re-assignment policies that minimize the blocking probability, dropping probability, and a weighted cost function of these probabilities. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Analysis of electromagnetic band-gap waveguide structures using body-of-revolution finite-difference time-domain methodMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 9 2007Ming-Sze Tong Abstract Study of electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structures has become a hot topic in computational electromagnetics. In this article, some EBG structures integrated inside a circular waveguide are studied. They are formed by a series of air-gaps within a circular dielectric-filled waveguide. A body-of-revolution finite-difference time-domain (BOR-FDTD) method is adopted for analysis of such waveguide structures, due to their axial symmetric properties. The opening ends of the waveguide are treated as a matched load using an unsplit perfectly matched layer technique. Excitations on a waveguide in BOR-FDTD are demonstrated. Numerical results of various air-gap lengths with respect to the period of separation are given, showing an interesting tendency of EBG behavior. A chirping-and-tapering technique is applied on the EBG pattern to improve the overall performance. The proposed EBG structures may be applied into antenna structures or other system for unwanted signal suppression. Results show that the BOR-FDTD offers a good alternative in analyzing axial symmetric configurations, as it offers enormous savings in computational time and memory comparing with a general 3D-FDTD algorithm. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2201,2206, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22668 [source] A performance study of job management systemsCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 13 2004Tarek El-Ghazawi Abstract Job Management Systems (JMSs) efficiently schedule and monitor jobs in parallel and distributed computing environments. Therefore, they are critical for improving the utilization of expensive resources in high-performance computing systems and centers, and an important component of Grid software infrastructure. With many JMSs available commercially and in the public domain, it is difficult to choose an optimum JMS for a given computing environment. In this paper, we present the results of the first empirical study of JMSs reported in the literature. Four commonly used systems, LSF, PBS Pro, Sun Grid Engine/CODINE, and Condor were considered. The study has revealed important strengths and weaknesses of these JMSs under different operational conditions. For example, LSF was shown to exhibit excellent throughput for a wide range of job types and submission rates. Alternatively, CODINE appeared to outperform other systems in terms of the average turn-around time for small jobs, and PBS appeared to excel in terms of turn-around time for relatively larger jobs. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Application of the mouse exo utero development system in the study of developmental biology and teratologyCONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 1 2004Toshihisa Hatta ABSTRACT The mouse exo utero development system is useful for analyzing the roles of molecules or interactions between tissues in the histogenesis of organs after the mid-gestational period. In the article presented here, we review the mouse exo utero development system and its specific modifications depending on different purposes as well as its advantages over and limitations compared to other systems in the study of developmental biology and teratology. [source] Identification of erythroid-enriched gene expression in the mouse embryonic yolk sac using microdissected cellsDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2008Latasha C. Redmond Abstract Little is known about the genes that control the embryonic erythroid program. Laser capture microdissection was used to isolate primitive erythroid precursors and epithelial cells from frozen sections of the embryonic day 9.5 yolk sac. The RNA samples were amplified and labeled for hybridization to Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Genome 430A 2.0 arrays. Ninety-one genes are expressed significantly higher in erythroid than in epithelial cells. Ingenuity pathway analysis indicates that many of these erythroid-enriched genes cluster in highly significant biological networks. One of these networks contains RBTN2/LMO2, SCL/TAL1, and EKLF/KLF1, three of the very few genes required for primitive erythropoiesis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to verify that platelet factor 4, reelin, thrombospondin - 1, and muscleblind - like 1 mRNA is erythroid-enriched. These genes have established roles in development or differentiation in other systems, and are, therefore, good candidates for regulating primitive erythropoiesis. These results provide a catalog of genes expressed during primitive erythropoiesis. Developmental Dynamics 237:436,446, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Drosophila melanogaster p24 genes have developmental, tissue-specific, and sex-specific expression patterns and functionsDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2007Kara A. Boltz Abstract Genes encoding members of the p24 family of intracellular trafficking proteins are present throughout animal and plant lineages. However, very little is known about p24 developmental, spatial, or sex-specific expression patterns or how localized expression affects function. We investigated these problems in Drosophila melanogaster, which contains nine genes encoding p24 proteins. One of these genes, logjam (loj), is expressed in the adult female nervous system and ovaries and is essential for oviposition. Nervous system-specific expression of loj, but not ovary-specific expression, rescues the behavioral defect of mutants. The Loj protein localizes to punctate structures in the cellular cytoplasm. These structures colocalize with a marker specific to the intermediate compartment and cis -Golgi, consistent with experimental evidence from other systems suggesting that p24 proteins function in intracellular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. Our findings reveal that Drosophila p24 transcripts are developmentally and tissue-specifically expressed. CG31787 is male-specifically expressed gene that is present during the larval, pupal, and adult stages. Female CG9053 mRNA is limited to the head, whereas males express this gene widely. Together, our studies provide experimental evidence indicating that some p24 genes have sex-specific expression patterns and tissue- and sex-limited functions. Developmental Dynamics 236:544,555, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Combinatorial treatments for promoting axon regeneration in the CNS: Strategies for overcoming inhibitory signals and activating neurons' intrinsic growth stateDEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Larry I. Benowitz Abstract In general, neurons in the mature mammalian central nervous system (CNS) are unable to regenerate injured axons, and neurons that remain uninjured are unable to form novel connections that might compensate for ones that have been lost. As a result of this, victims of CNS injury, stroke, or certain neurodegenerative diseases are unable to fully recover sensory, motor, cognitive, or autonomic functions. Regenerative failure is related to a host of inhibitory signals associated with the extracellular environment and with the generally low intrinsic potential of mature CNS neurons to regenerate. Most research to date has focused on extrinsic factors, particularly the identification of inhibitory proteins associated with myelin, the perineuronal net, glial cells, and the scar that forms at an injury site. However, attempts to overcome these inhibitors have resulted in relatively limited amounts of CNS regeneration. Using the optic nerve as a model system, we show that with appropriate stimulation, mature neurons can revert to an active growth state and that when this occurs, the effects of overcoming inhibitory signals are enhanced dramatically. Similar conclusions are emerging from studies in other systems, pointing to a need to consider combinatorial treatments in the clinical setting. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007 [source] Geomorphic changes in a complex gully system measured from sequential digital elevation models, and implications for managementEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 10 2003Harley D. Betts Abstract High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) were derived from sequential aerial photography of an active ,uvio-mass movement (gully) complex in New Zealand's North Island East Coast region, to measure geomorphic changes over approximately one year. The gully showed a complex behaviour, combining ,uvial and mass movement erosion, deposition, and reworking of materials stored in an active debris fan. During the measurement period 5200 ± 1700 m3 of material were eroded from the 8·7 ha gully complex and 670 ± 180 m3 from the 0·8 ha depositional fan, giving a total of 5870 ± 1710 m3 for the entire gully complex,fan system. The results provide a high-resolution description of gully behaviour over a short time period, and also demonstrate that mass movement (slumping and debris ,ows) accounted for almost 90 per cent (4660 ± 200 m3) of the sediment generated. This erosional response is described in terms of gully evolution by comparing the gully complex to other systems in the region in various stages of development. The effect of gully evolution on geomorphic coupling between the gully complex and channel system is described, and coupling is also shown to vary with the magnitude and frequency of rainfall events. From a land management perspective the success of strategies, such as tree planting, to mitigate against gully erosion depends on the stage of gully development , particularly on whether or not mass movement erosion has begun. In contrast to gully rehabilitation efforts elsewhere, basin-wide afforestation in the early stages of gully incision is favoured over riparian planting, given that mass movement assisted by excessive groundwater pressure is the main process leading to uncontrollable gully expansion. To protect land effectively against continuing gully erosion of headwater catchments and resulting downstream aggradation, it is necessary for land managers to understand the spatial and temporal variability of gully development fully so that mitigation efforts can be targeted appropriately. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Converting visual census data into absolute abundance estimates: a method for calibrating timed counts of a sedentary insect populationECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Ho Jung S. Yoo Abstract., 1.,Visual surveys for small organisms on complex substrates often yield serious underestimates of true counts. When both visual counts (relative estimates of abundance) and absolute counts can be obtained from the same sample, however, the visual counts can be calibrated such that absolute estimates can be obtained in the future from visual surveys alone. 2.,A method is presented for converting quick, timed, visual counts of a sedentary insect on a shrub into absolute estimates of abundance. 3.,Analogies were drawn from simple, well-known predation theories to develop a two-parameter non-linear model. Parameter estimates were obtained by both inverse prediction and direct estimation methods; the latter were found to yield more accurate predictions of absolute abundance. 4.,The calibration model is mechanistic in its approach, and thus has potential for application in other systems in which all individuals are visible, but able to be missed during timed counts. [source] Community effects of praying mantids: a meta-analysis of the influences of species identity and experimental designECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2002William F. Fagan Abstract ,1. Generalist arthropod predators are ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems but experimental studies have yielded little agreement as to their effects on prey assemblages. Drawing on results from a suite of experimental field studies, a meta-analysis was conducted of the impact of praying mantids (Mantodea: Mantidae) on arthropod assemblages in order to identify predictable and unpredictable effects of these extremely generalised predators. 2. Results across different experiments were synthesised using the log response ratio framework, with a focus on quantifying net mantid impacts on arthropod density across taxonomic orders and trophic levels of arthropods, paying special attention to the contribution of mantid species identity and experimental design variables, such as the use of cages, length of experiment, and manipulated mantid density. 3. Calculated on a per mantid-day basis, the net impacts of Tenodera sinensis on arthropod density were generally weaker but more predictable than the effects of Mantis religiosa. Mantids in general had weak negative effects on density for most taxa but exhibited strong negative and positive effects on some taxa. Tenodera sinensis tended to have negative effects on Homoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera and herbivores as a group, however M. religiosa exhibited greater variation in response of different taxa that appeared to be affected more strongly by experimental design. The effects of Stagmomantis carolina tended to be negative or non-significant. 4. Experimental cages had little influence on either the sign or magnitude of net community impacts for T. sinensis, however cage experiments reversed the sign of the mean effect for two of six taxonomic orders when the experimental predator was M. religiosa. Cages also increased the variability of effect size greatly for M. religiosa but not for T. sinensis. 5. It was concluded that it is possible to use log response ratios to determine general, predictable trends in a well-studied system. Similar meta-analyses of generalist predator effects in other systems should produce predictions of how these predators influence food webs, an important step towards defining more clearly the influences of generalist predators on community structure and dynamics. [source] A new optimal foraging model predicts habitat use by drift-feeding stream minnowsECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 1 2002G. D. Grossman Abstract , There is substantial need for models that accurately predict habitat selection by fishes for purposes ranging from the elaboration of ecological theory to the preservation of biodiversity. We have developed a new and highly tractable optimal foraging model for drift-feeding fishes that is based on the profitability of occupying varying focal-point velocities in a stream. The basic model can be written as: Ix = (Ex * Px) = {(D * A * V) * [1/(1 + e(b + cV))]} , Sx, where: (1) Ix is the net energy intake at velocity x; (2) E is prey encounter rate; (3) P is prey capture success rate which can be modelled as 1/(1 + e(b + cV)) where b and c are fitting constants from the prey capture success curve; (4) D is the energy content of prey (J/m3) in the drift; (5) A is the visual reactive area of the fish; (6) V is velocity (cm/s); and (7) S is the cost of maintaining position (J/s). Given that D, A and S can be considered constant over the range of velocities occupied by these fishes, the model reduces to e(b + cV) = 1/(cV , 1) which we solved iteratively to yield an optimal focal-point velocity for species in each sample. We tested the model by comparing its predictions to the mean focal-point velocities (i.e. microhabitats) occupied by four species of drift-feeding minnows in two sites in a stream in North Carolina, USA. The model successfully predicted focal-point velocities occupied by these species (11 out of 14 cases) in three seasonal samples collected over 2 years at two sites. The unsuccessful predictions still were within 2 cm/s of the 95% confidence intervals of mean velocities occupied by fishes, whereas the overall mean deviation between optimal velocities and mean fish velocities was small (range = 0.9 and 3.3 cm/s for the warpaint shiner and the Tennessee shiner, respectively). Available focal-point velocities ranged from 0,76 to 0,128 cm/s depending on site and season. Our findings represent one of the more rigorous field tests of an optimal foraging/habitat selection model for aquatic organisms because they encompass multiple species and years, and for one species, multiple sites. Because of the ease of parameterization of our model, it should be readily testable in a range of lotic habitats. If validated in other systems, the model should provide critical habitat information that will aid in the management of riverine systems and improve the performance of a variety of currently used management models (e.g. instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM) and total maximum daily load calculations (TMDL)). Resumen 1. Existe una grave necesidad de modelos que predigan con precisión la selección de hábitat por parte de los peces con fines que van del desarrollo de la teoría ecológica a la conservación de la biodiversidad. Nosotros hemos desarrollado un modelo nuevo y de fácil manejo de alimentación óptima para peces que se alimentan de la deriva que se fundamenta en los diferentes beneficios energéticos derivados de ocupar velocidades focales distintas en un río. 2. El modelo básico puede formularse como: Ix = (Ex * Px) = {(D * A * V) * [1/(1 + e(b + cV))]} , Sx, donde: (1) Ix es el energía neta obtenida a la velocidad, x; (2) V es la velocidad (cm/s); (3) A es el area visual de reacción del pez; (4) D es la energía contenida en las presas (J/m3) en la deriva; (5) E es la tasa de encuentro de presas; (6) P es la probabilidad de captura de la presa, que puede representarse como 1/(1 + e(b + cV)) donde b y c son constantes; y (7) S es el coste de nadar para mantener la posición en la corriente (J/s). Puesto que D, A y S pueden considerarse constantes en el rango de velocidades que ocupan estos peces, el modelo se reduce a e(b + cV) = 1/(cV , 1) que resolvimos iterativamente para obtener una velocidad focal óptima para cada especie en cada muestreo. 3. Probamos el modelo comparando su predicciones con la velocidades focales medias (i.e. microhabitats) ocupadas por cuatro especies de ciprínidos que se alimentan de la deriva en un río de Carolina del Norte. El modelo predijo con éxito las velocidades focales ocupadas por estas especies (11/14 casos) en tres muestreos estacionales llevados a cabo a lo largo de dos años en dos estaciones. Incluso las predicciones fallidas se diferenciaron en menos de 2 cm/s del límite de confianza al 95% CIs de las velocidades medias ocupadas, y la diferencia media entre predicciones y observaciones fue pequeña (rango = 0.9 cm/s warpaint shiner, a 3.3-cm/s Tennessee shiner). El rango de las velocidades focales medias disponibles fue de 0,76 cm/s a 0,128 cm/s dependiendo de la localidad y estación del año. 4. Nuestros resultados son una de las pruebas de campo más rigurosas de un modelo de alimentación óptima/selección de hábitat para organismos acuáticos puesto que incluyen diversas especies, años y, para una de las especies, localidades. La facilidad de la estima de los parámetros del modelo hace que sea fácil probarlo en diversos hábitats lóticos. Si es validado en ellos, el modelo debería proporcionar información valiosa que ayudará a la gestión de los sistemas fluviales y mejorará los resultados obtenidos a través de varios modelos usados actualmente para la gestión (p.e. IFIM y cálculos TMDL). [source] Diet dynamics of the juvenile piscivorous fish community in Spirit Lake, Iowa, USA, 1997,1998ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 4 2001M. E. Pelham Abstract , We assessed temporal dynamics and variation among species and age-classes in the diets of age 0 and age 1 piscivorous fish species in Spirit Lake, Iowa, USA during 1997 and 1998. Species included walleye Stizostedion vitreum, yellow perch Perca flavescens, smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and white bass Morone chrysops. Thirty taxa were identified in diets, including 12 species of fish. We found dramatic differences in diets among species, among age-classes within species and over time. Walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and white bass were piscivorous at age 0. Black crappie began piscivory at age 1. Yellow perch also began piscivory at age 1, but fish were a very small fraction of age-1 diets. The primary temporal pattern, seen in several species and age-classes, was an increase in piscivory from spring to fall. This pattern was due to the lack of small, age-0 prey fish in spring. Although some patterns were evident, the taxonomic composition of the diets of all species was highly variable over time, making generalizations difficult. A surprising result was the absence of yellow perch in the diet of age-0 walleye, despite their abundance in Spirit Lake and prominence in diets of age-1 walleye and other age 1-piscivores. Age-0 yellow perch were consistently too large to be eaten by age-0 piscivores, which preyed primarily on invertebrates and smaller fish such as johnny darters Etheostoma nigrum and age 0 bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. This finding suggests that predator-prey interactions and resulting population dynamics may be quite different in Spirit Lake than in other systems dominated by walleye and yellow perch., [source] THEORIZING THE UNIVERSITY AS A CULTURAL SYSTEM: DISTINCTIONS, IDENTITIES, EMERGENCIESEDUCATIONAL THEORY, Issue 3 2006Mark Considine In this essay, Mark Considine argues that the prospect of such changes requires us to reflect carefully upon the theoretical and normative underpinnings of universities and to delineate the structures and processes through which they might seek to negotiate their identities. Considine re-theorizes the university as a higher education system composed by distinctions and networks acting through an important class of boundary objects. He moves beyond an environmental analysis, asserting that systems are best theorized as cultural practices based upon actors making and protecting important kinds of distinctions. Thus, the university system must be investigated as a knowledge-based binary for dividing knowledge from other things. This approach, in turn, produces an identity-centering (cultural) model of the system that assumes universities must perform two different acts of distinction to exist: first, they must distinguish themselves from other systems (such as the economy, organized religion, and the labor market), and, second, they must operate successfully in a chosen resource environment. Ultimately, Considine argues that while environmental problems (such as cuts in government grants) may generate periodic crises, threats within identities produce emergencies generating a radical kind of problematic for actor networks. [source] The zeta potential of surface-functionalized metallic nanorod particles in aqueous solutionELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 5 2008George M. Dougherty Abstract Metallic nanoparticles suspended in aqueous solutions and functionalized with chemical and biological surface coatings are important elements in basic and applied nanoscience research. Many applications require an understanding of the electrokinetic or colloidal properties of such particles. We describe the results of experiments to measure the zeta potential of metallic nanorod particles in aqueous saline solutions, including the effects of pH, ionic strength, metallic composition, and surface functionalization state. Particle substrates tested include gold, silver, and palladium monometallic particles as well as gold/silver bimetallic particles. Surface functionalization conditions included 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA), mercaptoethanol (ME), and mercaptoethanesulfonic acid (MESA) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), as well as MUA layers subsequently derivatized with proteins. For comparison, we present zeta potential data for typical charge-stabilized polystyrene particles. We compare experimental zeta potential data with theoretically predicted values for SAM-coated and bimetallic particles. The results of these studies are useful in predicting and controlling the aggregation, adhesion, and transport of functionalized metallic nanoparticles within microfluidic devices and other systems. [source] Switching of the transmitters that mediate hindbrain correlated activity in the chick embryoEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 1 2009Hiraku Mochida Abstract Widely propagating correlated neuronal activity is a hallmark of the developing nervous system. The activity is usually mediated by multiple transmitters, and the contribution of gap junctions has also been suggested in several systems. In some structures, such as the retina and spinal cord, it has been shown that the dominant transmitter mediating the correlated wave switches from acetylcholine to glutamate during development, although the functional significance of this phenomenon has not been clarified. An important question is whether such a transmitter switch occurs in other systems, especially in the brain. In the present study, we demonstrate that the major transmitter mediating correlated wave activity in the embryonic chick hindbrain changes from acetylcholine/,-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/glycine to glutamate/GABA as development proceeds. The results show for the first time that the dominant transmitter switches from acetylcholine to glutamate in a region other than the retina and spinal cord. This finding sheds more light on the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the generation of correlated wave activity, which is considered to regulate the development of the nervous system. [source] Serially concatenated continuous phase modulation with symbol interleavers: performance, properties and design principlesEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 4 2006Ming Xiao Serially concatenated continuous phase modulation (SCCPM) systems with symbol interleavers are investigated. The transmitted signals are disturbed by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). Compared to bit interleaved SCCPM systems, this scheme shows a substantial improvement in the convergence threshold at the price of a higher error floor. In addition to showing this property, we also investigate the underlying reason by error event analysis. In order to estimate bit error rate (BER) performance, we generalise traditional union bounds for a bit interleaver to this non-binary interleaver. For the latter, both the order and the position of permuted non-zero symbols have to be considered. From the analysis, some principal properties are identified. Finally, some design principles are proposed. Our paper concentrates on SCCPM, but the proposed analysis methods and conclusions can be widely used in many other systems such as serially concatenated trellis coded modulation (SCTCM) et cetera. Copyright © 2006 AEIT [source] PEAK SHIFT DISCRIMINATION LEARNING AS A MECHANISM OF SIGNAL EVOLUTIONEVOLUTION, Issue 6 2005Spencer K. Lynn Abstract "Peak shift" is a behavioral response bias arising from discrimination learning in which animals display a directional, but limited, preference for or avoidance of unusual stimuli. Its hypothesized evolutionary relevance has been primarily in the realm of aposematic coloration and limited sexual dimorphism. Here, we develop a novel functional approach to peak shift, based on signal detection theory, which characterizes the response bias as arising from uncertainty about stimulus appearance, frequency, and quality. This approach allows the influence of peak shift to be generalized to the evolution of signals in a variety of domains and sensory modalities. The approach is illustrated with a bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) discrimination learning experiment. Bees exhibited peak shift while foraging in an artificial Batesian mimicry system. Changes in flower abundance, color distribution, and visitation reward induced bees to preferentially visit novel flower colors that reduced the risk of flower-type misidentification. Under conditions of signal uncertainty, peak shift results in visitation to rarer, but more easily distinguished, morphological variants of rewarding species in preference to their average morphology. Peak shift is a common and taxonomically widespread phenomenon. This example of the possible role of peak shift in signal evolution can be generalized to other systems in which a signal receiver learns to make choices in situations in which signal variation is linked to the sender's reproductive success. [source] The role of the cutaneous cholinergic system in guttate psoriasisEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2008W. Dyck In previous studies, high levels of acetylcholine (ACh) have been reported in psoriasis lesions. In addition, patients with guttate psoriasis respond to oral treatment with atropine. We wanted to know how the cutaneous cholinergic system could be involved in this process. Since mast cells (MC) are characteristic components of the inflammatory infiltrate of guttate psoriasis, we compared ACh receptor (AChR) composition and ACh production in both epidermis and mast cells of 10 patients with guttate psoriasis in involved and uninvolved skin on protein level using immunofluorescence and in a MC line (HMC-1) using PCR. We could confirm the presence of numerous MC in guttate psoriasis lesion. Both in vivo and in vitro, MC lacked expression of cholinacetyltransferase (ChAT), vesicular acetylcholintransorter (VAChT) and cholintransporter-1 (ChT-1) but contained high levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In mast cells of both involved and uninvolved skin we found both nicotinic (,3, ,5, ,7, ,9, ,10, ,2 and ,4 subunits) and muscarinic (M1, M3, M4, M5) AChR. In HMC-1 cells all AChR subunits found in skin where present on mRNA level, except ,7 and ,2. In lesional epidermis both ACh production and AChR expression was shifted from the basal to the suprabasal layers especially the nicotinic ,3, ,5, ,9, ,2 and ,4 and the muscarinic M3 and M5 AChR subunits. Our results exclude a role of the cholinergic system in the initiation of keratinocyte proliferation in the basal epidermal layer but point towards a role of epidermal AChR in suprabasal processes, most likely terminal differentiation and barrier formation as has been shown in other systems. Most importantly, mast cells are targets of paracrine and endocrine effects mediated by ACh and choline thus modulating inflammatory processes like guttate psoriasis and explaining the clinical efficacity of anticholinergic drugs like atropine. [source] Reduced FAS transcription in clones of U937 cells that have acquired resistance to Fas-induced apoptosisFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009Jeanette Blomberg Susceptibility to cell death is a prerequisite for the elimination of tumour cells by cytotoxic immune cells, chemotherapy or irradiation. Activation of the death receptor Fas is critical for the regulation of immune cell homeostasis and efficient killing of tumour cells by apoptosis. To define the molecular changes that occur during selection for insensitivity to Fas-induced apoptosis, a resistant variant of the U937 cell line was established. Individual resistant clones were isolated and characterized. The most frequently observed defect in the resistant cells was reduced Fas expression, which correlated with decreased FAS transcription. Clones with such reduced Fas expression also displayed partial cross-resistance to tumour necrosis factor-, stimulation, but the mRNA expression of tumour necrosis factor receptors was not decreased. Reintroduction of Fas conferred susceptibility to Fas but not to tumour necrosis factor-, stimulation, suggesting that several alterations could be present in the clones. The reduced Fas expression could not be explained by mutations in the FAS coding sequence or promoter region, or by silencing through methylations. Protein kinase B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, components of signalling pathways downstream of Ras, were shown to be activated in some of the resistant clones, but none of the three RAS genes was mutated, and experiments using chemical inhibitors could not establish that the activation of these proteins was the cause of Fas resistance as described in other systems. Taken together, the data illustrate that Fas resistance can be caused by reduced Fas expression, which is a result of an unidentified mode of regulation. [source] Fast set-up of doxycycline-inducible protein expression in human cell lines with a single plasmid based on Epstein,Barr virus replication and the simple tetracycline repressorFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007Markus Bach We have developed a novel plasmid vector, pEBTetD, for full establishment of doxycycline-inducible protein expression by just a single transfection. pEBTetD contains an Epstein,Barr virus origin of replication for stable and efficient episomal propagation in human cell lines, a cassette for continuous expression of the simple tetracycline repressor, and a cytomegalovirus-type 2 tetracycline operator (tetO2)-tetO2 promoter. As there is no integration of vector into the genome, clonal isolation of transfected cells is not necessary. Cells are thus ready for use 1 week after transfection; this contrasts with 3,12 weeks for other systems. Adequate regulation of protein expression was accomplished by abrogation of mRNA polyadenylation. In northern analysis of seven cDNAs coding for transport proteins, pools of transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells showed on/off mRNA ratios in the order of 100 : 1. Cell pools were also analyzed for regulation of protein function. With two transport proteins of the plasma membrane, the on/off activity ratios were 24 : 1 and 34 : 1, respectively. With enhanced green fluorescent protein, a 23 : 1 ratio was observed based on fluorescence intensity data from flow cytometry. The unique advantage of our system rests on the unmodified tetracycline repressor, which is less likely, by relocation upon binding of doxycycline, to cause cellular disturbances than chimera of tetracycline repressor and eukaryotic transactivation domains. Thus, in a comprehensive comparison of on- and off-states, a steady cellular background is provided. Finally, in contrast to a system based on Flp recombinase, the set-up of our system is inherently reliable. [source] Histone modifications and chromatin dynamics: a focus on filamentous fungiFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2008Gerald Brosch Abstract The readout of the genetic information of eukaryotic organisms is significantly regulated by modifications of DNA and chromatin proteins. Chromatin alterations induce genome-wide and local changes in gene expression and affect a variety of processes in response to internal and external signals during growth, differentiation, development, in metabolic processes, diseases, and abiotic and biotic stresses. This review aims at summarizing the roles of histone H1 and the acetylation and methylation of histones in filamentous fungi and links this knowledge to the huge body of data from other systems. Filamentous fungi show a wide range of morphologies and have developed a complex network of genes that enables them to use a great variety of substrates. This fact, together with the possibility of simple and quick genetic manipulation, highlights these organisms as model systems for the investigation of gene regulation. However, little is still known about regulation at the chromatin level in filamentous fungi. Understanding the role of chromatin in transcriptional regulation would be of utmost importance with respect to the impact of filamentous fungi in human diseases and agriculture. The synthesis of compounds (antibiotics, immunosuppressants, toxins, and compounds with adverse effects) is also likely to be regulated at the chromatin level. [source] Changes in spawning stock structure strengthen the link between climate and recruitment in a heavily fished cod (Gadus morhua) stockFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2006GEIR OTTERSEN Abstract Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the commercially most important fish species in the North Atlantic and plays a central role in several ecosystems. Fishing pressure has been heavy over a prolonged period and the recent decades have shown dramatic decline in abundance of many stocks. The Arcto-Norwegian (or North-east Arctic) cod stock in the Barents Sea is now the largest stock of Atlantic cod. Recruitment to this stock has varied extensively during the last 60 yr. There is evidence for fluctuations in climate, particularly sea temperature, being a main cause for this variability, higher temperatures being favourable for survival throughout the critical early life stages. Our studies of time series present compelling evidence for a strengthening of the climate,cod recruitment link during the last decades. We suggest this is an effect of the age and length composition of the spawning stock having changed distinctly. The age of the average spawner has decreased by more than 3 yr from between 10 and 11 in the late 1940s to 7,8 in the 1990s, average length from just above 90 cm to around 80 cm. The number of age classes contributing to the spawning stock has also decreased, while the number of length groups present increased slightly. Significant decrease in age of spawners has frequently been described for other heavily fished stocks worldwide. We therefore find it likely that the proposed mechanism of increased influence of climate on recruitment through changes in the spawning stock age and size composition is of a general nature and might be found in other systems. [source] The importance of meiofauna to lotic ecosystem functioningFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Christine C. Hakenkamp Summary 1Although meiofauna occur in large numbers in many streams, almost nothing is known about their functional role. 2In other systems, meiofauna influence microbial and organic matter dynamics through consumption and bioturbation. Given that these are important processes in streams, meiofauna have the potential to influence lotic function by changing the quality and availability of organic matter as well as the number and biotic activity of benthic microbes. Selective feeding by meiofauna has the potential to alter the availability of nutrients and organic carbon. 3Meiofauna generally contribute only a small amount to metazoan production and biomass in streams, although exceptions occur. Within a stream, the relative importance of meiofauna may reflect whether the temporary or permanent meiofauna dominate the meiobenthos as well as the season when samples are collected. 4We suggest stream conditions (small sediment grain size, restricted interstitial flow) under which meiofauna have the greatest likelihood of influencing stream ecosystem function. 5Important areas for future research include addressing whether meiofauna feed selectively, whether meiofauna are links or sinks for carbon in streams, and whether bioturbation by meiofauna influences stream ecosystem processes in a predictable manner. [source] MSI-1, a neural RNA-binding protein, is involved in male mating behaviour in Caenorhabditis elegansGENES TO CELLS, Issue 11 2000Akinori Yoda Neural RNA-binding proteins are thought to play important roles in neural development and the functional regulation of postmitotic neurones by mediating post-transcriptional gene regulation. RNA-binding proteins belonging to the Musashi family are highly expressed in the nervous system; however, their roles are poorly understood. We identified a Caenorhabditis elegans Musashi homologue, MSI-1, whose RNA-recognition motifs show extensive similarity to those of Drosophila and vertebrate Musashi proteins. We isolated a msi-1 mutant and found males with this mutation to have a mating defect. C. elegans male mating behaviour includes a distinct series of steps: response to contact, backing, turning, vulva location, spicule insertion, and sperm transfer. msi-1 is required for the turning and vulva location steps. Like other Musashi family members, MSI-1 is expressed specifically in neural cells, including male-specific neurones required for turning and vulva location. However, msi-1 was not expressed in proliferating neural progenitors in C. elegans, unlike the Musashi family genes in other systems. Our results suggest that msi-1 is expressed specifically in postmitotic neurones in C. elegans. msi-1 is required for full development of male mating behaviour, possibly through regulation of msi-1 expressing neurones. [source] Evaluating MT3DMS for Heat Transport Simulation of Closed Geothermal SystemsGROUND WATER, Issue 5 2010Jozsef Hecht-Méndez Owing to the mathematical similarities between heat and mass transport, the multi-species transport model MT3DMS should be able to simulate heat transport if the effects of buoyancy and changes in viscosity are small. Although in several studies solute models have been successfully applied to simulate heat transport, these studies failed to provide any rigorous test of this approach. In the current study, we carefully evaluate simulations of a single borehole ground source heat pump (GSHP) system in three scenarios: a pure conduction situation, an intermediate case, and a convection-dominated case. Two evaluation approaches are employed: first, MT3DMS heat transport results are compared with analytical solutions. Second, simulations by MT3DMS, which is finite difference, are compared with those by the finite element code FEFLOW and the finite difference code SEAWAT. Both FEFLOW and SEAWAT are designed to simulate heat flow. For each comparison, the computed results are examined based on residual errors. MT3DMS and the analytical solutions compare satisfactorily. MT3DMS and SEAWAT results show very good agreement for all cases. MT3DMS and FEFLOW two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) results show good to very good agreement, except that in 3D there is somewhat deteriorated agreement close to the heat source where the difference in numerical methods is thought to influence the solution. The results suggest that MT3DMS can be successfully applied to simulate GSHP systems, and likely other systems with similar temperature ranges and gradients in saturated porous media. [source] Cover Picture: Hierarchically Organized Superstructure Emerging from the Exquisite Association of Inorganic Crystals, Organic Polymers, and Dyes: A Model Approach Towards Suprabiomineral Materials (Adv. Funct.ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2005Mater. Abstract Suprabiomineral materials possessing hierarchically organized superstructures are investigated by Imai and Oaki on p.,1407. Inorganic crystals, organic polymers, and functional dyes have assembled via a simple biomimetic route into a superstructure that contains six different tiers, from the macroscale to the nanoscale. The hierarchy originates from the strong interaction between crystals and polymers and the diffusion-controlled conditions. The versatile role of the polymer is found to be essential for the construction of a superstructure. This approach promises to generate novel types of functional materials with controllable structures and properties. We report a novel hierarchically organized superstructure emerging from an exquisite association of inorganic crystals, organic polymers, and dyes. The resultant K2SO4/poly(acrylic acid) composite includes five different tiers from the nanoscopic to the macroscopic. An additional new tier leading to functionality is formed by the incorporation of organic dyes that are organized in a nanospace. The emergent superstructure and properties are designed through changes in polymer concentration. The multiple roles of the polymer realize the generation of the architecture at each size scale. This model approach should be widely applicable to other systems, allowing for the preparation of innovative materials by an appropriate combination of crystals, polymers, and functional molecules. [source] Induction and mechanism of action of transforming growth factor-,-secreting Th3 regulatory cellsIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2001Howard L. Weiner Summary: Th3 CD4+ regulatory cells were identified during the course of investigating mechanisms associated with oral tolerance. Different mechanisms of tolerance are induced following oral antigen administration, including active suppression, clonal anergy and deletion. Low doses favor active suppression whereas high doses favor anergy/deletion. Th3 regulatory cells form a unique T-cell subset which primarily secretes transforming growth factor (TGF)-,, provides help for IgA and has suppressive properties for both Th1 and Th2 cells. Th3 type cells are distinct from the Th2 cells, as CD4+ TGF-,-secreting cells with suppressive properties have been generated from interleukin (IL)-4-deficient animals. In vitro differentiation of Th3 cells from Th precursors from T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) transgenic mice is enhanced by culture with TGF-,, IL-4, IL-10, and anti-IL-12. Th3 CD4+ myelin basic protein regulatory clones are structurally identical to Th1 encephalitogenic clones in TCR usage, MHC restriction and epitope recognition, but produce TGF-, with various amounts of IL-4 and IL-10. Because Th3 regulatory cells are triggered in an antigen-specific fashion but suppress in an antigen-non-specific fashion, they mediate "bystander suppression" when they encounter the fed autoantigen at the target organ. In vivo induction of Th3 cells and low dose oral tolerance is enhanced by oral administration of IL-4. Anti-CD86 but not anti-CD80 blocks the induction of Th3 cells associated with low dose oral tolerance. Th3 regulatory cells have been described in other systems (e.g. recovery from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis) but may be preferentially generated following oral antigen administration due to the gut immunologic milieu that is rich in TGF-, and has a unique class of dendritic cells. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cell function also appears related to TGF-,. [source] Adaptive unknown input observer approach for aircraft actuator fault detection and isolationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 1 2007Dan Wang Abstract In this paper, an adaptive unknown input observer (UIO) approach is developed to detect and isolate aircraft actuator faults. In a multiple-model scheme, a bank of parallel observers are constructed, each of which is based on a model that describes the system in the presence of a particular actuator fault. The observers are constructed based on a modified form of the standard UIO to generate fault-dependant residual signals, such that when a model matches the system, the residual signal will be zero. Otherwise, the residual will be definitely non-zero and governed uniquely by the faulty signal. For locked actuators and loss of actuator effectiveness, in which the locked position and the reduced effectiveness are additional unknowns, we develop an adaptive scheme to estimate these unknown parameters. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first adaptive UIO presented. We prove that the proposed adaptive algorithms guarantee that both the residual signals and the estimation errors of the unknown parameters converge exponentially when a model matches the plant. By further designing a model-matching index, the fault can be isolated accurately. A condition for the approach is that for an nth order system, there must be n independent measurements available. This requirement limits the applicability of our proposed approach. The condition is certainly satisfied by all state-feedback control systems. However, for some other systems, extra efforts may be needed to increase the number of measurements. The method is applied to a linear model of the F-16 aircraft with controller. The results show that the approach is effective. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||