An expert decision support system for network routing: a case study

The paper presents a case study of the development of an expert decision support system which uses simple heuristic methods for fast determination of routes for simultaneous signals in a transmission network of limited capacity. It illustrates how heuristic solutions can be embodied in a model-based DSS and how the standard decision support literature, although intuitively appealing, provides little practical assistance in system construction or classification     

Fast algorithms for single frequency estimation

In this paper, some new estimators of the frequency of a single complex sinusoid are presented. The rotate-add-decimate (RAD) method of Crozier is first refined to more closely approach the Cramer-Rao Bound (CRB). An additional modification yields an unbiased estimator (ERAD) that essentially achieves the CRB above a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) threshold comparable to that of RAD. In addition, this estimator is proven to achieve the CRB for high SNR. The ERAD method requires approximately 2N complex multiply-adds and log/sub 2/N arctangents. A modified ERAD (MERAD) is proposed that matches the SNR threshold and computational complexity of the RAD method (approximately 3N complex multiply-adds and log/sub 2/N arctangents) but achieves the CRB for high SNR.     

An exploration of expertise of knowledge workers: towards a definition of the universe of discourse for knowledge acquisition

Abstract. Knowledge systems development and use have been significantly encumbered by the difficulties of eliciting and formalizing the expertise upon which knowledge workers rely. This paper approaches the problem from an examination of the knowledge competencies of knowledge workers in order to define a universe of discourse for knowledge elicitation. It outlines two categories and several types of knowledge that could serve as the foundations for the development of a theory of expertise.     

MODELING LIGNIN LIQUEFACTION 1. CATALYTIC HYDROPROCESSING OF LIGNIN-RELATED METHOXYPHENOLS AND INTERAROMATIC UNIT LINKAGES

The reactions of two sets of lignin model compounds over a sulfided CoOMoO3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst were studied. The first set mimicked lignin methoxyphenol residues and comprised 4-methyl-guaiacol, 4-methyl catechol, eugenol and vanillin. Deoxygenation and hydrogenation were facile and led to ultimate molar yields of single-ring products as high as 0.70. The selectivity to single-ring products increased with increases in temperature, o-hydroxydiphenylmethane, phenyl ether and o,o'-biphenol constituted the second set that mimicked thermally stable lignin bonds.Fragmentation of o-hydroxydiphenylmethane and phenyl ether occurred readily; o,o'-biphenol reacted to dibenzofuran.

These results suggest that the single-ring products obtained from catalytic liquefaction of lignins should be more desirable than those obtained from pyrolysis because of both higher yields and reduced complexity.     

IL-1 beta and TNF alpha modulate delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced catalepsy in mice

The role of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) in THC-induced catalepsy in mice was examined. Recombinant IL-1 beta (400 ng/mouse, IV) and TNF alpha (500 ng/mouse, IV) were effective in potentiating the cataleptic effect of low-dose THC (10 micrograms/mouse, IV). Recombinant IL-1 alpha and IL-6 did not potentiate catalepsy at any dose tested. Anti-IL-1 beta and anti-TNF alpha antibodies were effective in attenuating high-dose (75 micrograms/mouse) THC-induced catalepsy. Antibodies to IL-1 alpha and IL-6 had no effect on catalepsy. Early onset catalepsy (10 min postinjection) was potentiated by exogenous recombinant IL-1 beta and TNF alpha but only later catalepsy (2 h postinjection) was attenuated by antibodies to endogenous IL-1 beta or TNF alpha. This divergence of the cytokine effect suggests that these substances regulate, by different mechanisms, the early and late THC-induced cataleptic response.     

Persistence of neutral polymorphisms in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

Phylogenetic trees for groups of closely related species often have different topologies, depending on the genes used. One explanation for the discordant topologies is the persistence of polymorphisms through the speciation phase, followed by differential fixation of alleles in the resulting species. The existence of transspecies polymorphisms has been documented for alleles maintained by balancing selection but not for neutral alleles. In the present study, transspecific persistence of neutral polymorphisms was tested in the endemic haplochromine species flock of Lake Victoria cichlid fish. Putative noncoding region polymorphisms were identified at four randomly selected nuclear loci and tested on a collection of 12 Lake Victoria species and their putative riverine ancestors. At all loci, the same polymorphism was found to be present in nearly all the tested species, both lacustrine and riverine. Different polymorphisms at these loci were found in cichlids of other East African lakes (Malawi and Tanganyika). The Lake Victoria polymorphisms must have therefore arisen after the flocks now inhabiting the three great lakes diverged from one another, but before the riverine ancestors of the Lake Victoria flock colonized the Lake. Calculations based on the mtDNA clock suggest that the polymorphisms have persisted for about 1.4 million years. To maintain neutral polymorphisms for such a long time, the population size must have remained large throughout the entire period.     

Demonstration of the Th1 to Th2 cytokine shift during the course of HIV-1 infection using cytoplasmic cytokine detection on single cell level by flow cytometry

OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes of Th1/Th2 cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that occur during the course of HIV infection by cytoplasmic cytokine staining on single cell level. DESIGN AND METHODS: Mitogen-stimulated PBMC from 16 healthy donors, 18 HIV-1-infected individuals without AIDS and 14 patients with AIDS were stained intracellularly with fluorescein-labelled MAb against interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma. Additionally, co-staining of CD4+ T-cell, CD8+ T-cell, natural killer (NK) cell, B-cell and monocytic markers was performed. Fluorescence staining was analysed by three-colour flow-cytometry. RESULTS: A reduced percentage of IL-2 and IFN-gamma (Th1 type)-producing cells among CD4+ T cells from HIV-1-infected individuals could be demonstrated. There was a continuous decrease of IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells in the course of HIV infection and a dramatic reduction of IL-2-expressing cells among CD4+ T cells in patients with AIDS. In contrast to Th1 cytokines, the frequency of Th2 cytokine expressing cells among CD4+ T cells increased in HIV-infected individuals. The maximum frequency of IL-4-expressing cells among CD4+ T cells was seen in HIV-infected individuals without AIDS, whereas the rate of IL-10-producing cells was highest in patients with AIDS. In HIV-infected individuals no significant proportion of Th0 cells expressing both Th1 and Th2 cytokines was detectable. In CD8+ T cells the percentage of IL-2 was expressing cells decreased continuously accompanied by a strong increase of the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing cells. CONCLUSION: The decreased percentage of cells expressing IL-2 and IFN-gamma in conjunction with an increased proportion of IL-4- and IL-10-producing cells among the CD4+ T cells in HIV-1-infected individuals demonstrate a Th1 to Th2 cytokine shift in the course of HIV infection on a single cell level. There was no evidence of a Th1 to Th0 cytokine shift. In addition to the loss of CD4+ T cells in HIV infection, the qualitative changes of Th1/Th2 cytokine expression may serve as a marker for progressive failure of cell-mediated immunity.     

Screening for diabetic retinopathy: the utility of nonmydriatic retinal photography in Egyptian adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Drug resistance has become a major cause of treatment failure in patients with acute leukemia. P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which is associated with the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, has been reported to be an important predictor of treatment outcome. The aim of this study was to analyze the value of Pgp expression in bone marrow or peripheral blood as a predictor of the response to remission induction chemotherapy as well as the duration of remission in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined the expression of Pgp in 82 patients with de novo AML using an immunocytochemical assay with the C219 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the 82 patients (33%) were C219-positive in from 1% to 100% of their cells. Thirteen cases (16%) showed a positive reaction in more than 50% of the leukemic cells. Only hyperleukocytosis was significantly associated with higher expression of Pgp. Although 8 of the 13 cases (62%) with more than 50% of cells having Pgp expression were CD34-positive, this association was not statistically significant. A univariate analysis of resistance to induction therapy showed a significantly higher resistance rate in patients with increased Pgp expression (P = 0.01) as well as in those patients with decreased reactivity to myeloperoxidase. The multivariate analysis revealed the independent prognostic value of Pgp expression. C219 reactivity did not have an influence on remission duration. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that P-glycoprotein expression is a reliable marker of resistance to induction treatment in patients with de novo AML.