A simple depolarization compensator for very widebandcommunications links an experimental evaluation

A simple cancellation-type compensator was built and subjected to limited testing in a terrestrial link using dual polarization frequency reuse (DPFR) with 3.2 Gb/s in each polarization. A wideband complex (four quadrant) weighting circuit was developed which was capable of about 20 dB of cancellation at midband in a 3.4 GHz band. Control of the weighting circuit was effected by use of two pilot tones near the band edges, from which magnitude and phase of cross-polarization interference (XPI) were estimated. Integration of the compensator, which operated at RF, had negligible impact on clear weather performance of the link, and impacted receiver noise figure by 0.2-0.3 dB. In rain, cancellation of the order of 5-10 dB was observed at values of cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) as low as 10 dB. Post-experiment analysis of the data suggested that there had been errors in the estimation of the phase of the XPI. In spite of this, useful improvement in link performance was demonstrated     

Computer simulation of three-dimensional heavy ion beam trajectory imaging techniques used for magnetic field estimation

A magnetic field mapping technique via heavy ion beam trajectory imaging is being developed on the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch. This paper describes the computational tools created to model camera images of the light emitted from a simulated ion beam, reconstruct a three-dimensional trajectory, and estimate the accuracy of the reconstruction. First, a computer model is used to create images of the torus interior from any candidate camera location. It is used to explore the visual field of the camera and thus to guide camera parameters and placement. Second, it is shown that a three-dimensional ion beam trajectory can be recovered from a pair of perspectively projected trajectory images. The reconstruction considers effects due to finite beam size, nonuniform beam current density, and image background noise. Third, it is demonstrated that the trajectory reconstructed from camera images can help compute magnetic field profiles, and might be used as an additional constraint to an equilibrium reconstruction code, such as MSTFit.     

DeepDISE: DNA Binding Site Prediction Using a Deep Learning Method

It is essential for future research to develop a new, reliable prediction method of DNA binding sites because DNA binding sites on DNA-binding proteins provide critical clues about protein function and drug discovery. However, the current prediction methods of DNA binding sites have relatively poor accuracy. Using 3D coordinates and the atom-type of surface protein atom as the input, we trained and tested a deep learning model to predict how likely a voxel on the protein surface is to be a DNA-binding site. Based on three different evaluation datasets, the results show that our model not only outperforms several previous methods on two commonly used datasets, but also demonstrates its robust performance to be consistent among the three datasets. The visualized prediction outcomes show that the binding sites are also mostly located in correct regions. We successfully built a deep learning model to predict the DNA binding sites on target proteins. It demonstrates that 3D protein structures plus atom-type information on protein surfaces can be used to predict the potential binding sites on a protein. This approach should be further extended to develop the binding sites of other important biological molecules.     

New Anti-Nodal Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Nodal Pre-Helix Loop Involved in Cripto-1 Binding

Nodal is a potent embryonic morphogen belonging to the TGF-β superfamily. Typically, it also binds to the ALK4/ActRIIB receptor complex in the presence of the co-receptor Cripto-1. Nodal expression is physiologically restricted to embryonic tissues and human embryonic stem cells, is absent in normal cells but re-emerges in several human cancers, including melanoma, breast, and colon cancer. Our aim was to obtain mAbs able to recognize Nodal on a major CBR (Cripto-Binding-Region) site and to block the Cripto-1-mediated signalling. To achieve this, antibodies were raised against hNodal(44–67) and mAbs generated by the hybridoma technology. We have selected one mAb, named 3D1, which strongly associates with full-length rhNodal (K_D 1.4 nM) and recognizes the endogenous protein in a panel of human melanoma cell lines by western blot and FACS analyses. 3D1 inhibits the Nodal-Cripto-1 binding and blocks Smad2/3 phosphorylation. Data suggest that inhibition of the Nodal-Cripto-1 axis is a valid therapeutic approach against melanoma and 3D1 is a promising and interesting agent for blocking Nodal-Cripto mediated tumor development. These findings increase the interest for Nodal as both a diagnostic and prognostic marker and as a potential new target for therapeutic intervention.     

Flow field analysis in a spiral viscous micropump

The paper presents a stream function solution and a computational analysis for the flow field of a viscous spiral pump, which employs a rotating spiral channel to achieve pumping action. This pump is fabricated using surface micromachining technology. The stream function solution employs a simplified 2D model for the flow field in its spiral channel that neglects the curvature of the spiral, and replaces it with an equivalent straight channel. The effect of spiral wall height on flow rate is analyzed and discussed. 3D computational analyses are obtained and are compared with analytical predictions.