Report of the first workshop on the genetic map of bovine chromosome 1

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), occurring primarily in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF), is a hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus fumigatus (Af), and is characterized by increased serum IgE levels and peripheral blood and pulmonary eosinophilia. We evaluated the IgE and cytokine profile in ABPA through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and evaluated eosinophil activity with the eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) assay. IgE and cytokines were measured in supernatants from cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three subject groups: ABPA patients, patients with asthma, and healthy individuals. All cultures for the three subject groups were studied in the presence and absence of two purified Af antigens (the 35-kD antigen and heat shock protein 1). We found that increased in vitro levels of IgE in unstimulated PBMC culture supernatants correlated significantly with serum IgE concentrations in ABPA patients. We measured a decrease in IgE levels of up to 75% of baseline values in supernatants from PBMC cultured with Af antigens. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) concentrations in cultures with Af were increased in ABPA, whereas concentrations of IL-4 did not differ in the three subject groups. An inverse relation was noted between the changes in IgE and IFN-gamma measured in 4 of 5 ABPA patients. The PBMC supernatants also promoted EPO activity in purified eosinophils from ABPA patients, and to a lesser extent in purified eosinophils from healthy subjects. These results show that the 35-kD antigen and HSP1 from Af downregulate IgE in vitro but are capable of inducing eosinophilia in ABPA. Further studies could result in the characterization of epitopes leading to these disparate effects. An identification of the IgE-down-regulating epitopes in Af antigens might have therapeutic significance.     

Interlaboratory comparison of hydrophone calibrations

The results of an interlaboratory comparison of hydrophone calibration techniques in the frequency range 1-10 MHz are reported. Two membrane hydrophones were calculated to six laboratories, and each laboratory determined the end-of-cable loaded sensitivities using their normal calibration methods; these included optical interferometry, planar scanning, reciprocity combined with time-delay spectrometry, and suspended-sphere radiometry. After converting the results to end-of-cable open-circuit sensitivities, in most cases agreement between the various values was within +/-10% at all frequencies.     

Deletion of the C26 Methyl Substituent from the Bryostatin Analogue Merle 23 Has Negligible Impact on Its Biological Profile and Potency

Important strides are being made in understanding the effects of structural features of bryostatin 1, a candidate therapeutic agent for cancer and dementia, in conferring its potency toward protein kinase C and the unique spectrum of biological responses that it induces. A critical pharmacophoric element in bryostatin 1 is the secondary hydroxy group at the C26 position, with a corresponding primary hydroxy group playing an analogous role in binding of phorbol esters to protein kinase C. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a bryostatin homologue in which the C26 hydroxy group is primary, as it is in the phorbol esters, and show that its biological activity is almost indistinguishable from that of the corresponding compound with a secondary hydroxy group.     

Iterative learning control — 2D control systems from theory to application

It has long been recognized that iterative learning control is a 2D system, i.e. information propagation occurs in two independent directions. In this paper, the application of so-called norm optimal iterative learning control, which has its origins in the theory of the class of 2D systems known as linear repetitive processes to an experimental testbed in the form of a chain conveyor system is reported. This includes the motivation for applying iterative learning control to such systems, the design and construction of the testbed, and its use to demonstrate that norm optimal iterative learning control gives superior performance over alternatives. As such, it provides an application for 2D systems theory where distinct advantages arise from using such a setting for modelling and control.     

Ein KI-Verfahren für das Kartenspiel Magic: The Gathering

Zusammenfassung  Das Projekt LOSER entwickelt eine künstliche Intelligenz für das Sammelkartenspiel ,,Magic: The Gathering“. Da dies viele verschiedene Teilprobleme aufweist, findet eine Vielzahl von Algorithmen Verwendung, die variabel umgesetzt werden, um Ver?nderungen der Spielregeln angemessen zu begegnen.     

Searching for Disease Modifiers—PKC Activation and HDAC Inhibition—A Dual Drug Approach to Alzheimer's Disease that Decreases Aβ Production while Blocking Oxidative Stress

A series of benzolactam compounds were synthesized, some of which caused a concentration‐dependent increase in sAPPα and decrease in Aβ production in the concentration range of 0.1–10 μM . Moreover, some compounds showed neuroprotective effects in the 10–20 μM range in the HCA cortical neuron model of oxidative stress and no toxicity in measurements of neuron viability by MTT assay, even at the highest concentrations tested (20 μM ).

     

Analyzing results of impedance spectroscopy using novel evolutionary programming techniques

This paper discusses the application of evolutionary programming methods to the problem of analyzing impedance spectroscopy results. The basic approach is a “direct-problem” one, i.e., to find a time constant distribution function that would create similar impedance results as the measured ones, within experimental error. Two complementary methods have been applied and are discussed here: Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Genetic Programming (GP). A GA can be applied when a known (or desired) model exists, whereas GP can be used to create new models where the only a-priori knowledge is their smoothness and their non-negativity. GP is tuned to prefer relatively non-complex models through penalization of unnecessary complexity.     

Model-based control of fuel cells (2): Optimal efficiency

A dynamic PEM fuel cell model has been developed, taking into account spatial dependencies of voltage, current, material flows, and temperatures. The voltage, current, and therefore, the efficiency are dependent on the temperature and other variables, which can be optimized on the fly to achieve optimal efficiency. In this paper, we demonstrate that a model predictive controller, relying on a reduced-order approximation of the dynamic PEM fuel cell model can satisfy setpoint changes in the power demand, while at the same time, minimize fuel consumption to maximize the efficiency. The main conclusion of the paper is that by appropriate formulation of the objective function, reliable optimization of the performance of a PEM fuel cell can be performed in which the main tunable parameter is the prediction and control horizons, V and U, respectively. We have demonstrated that increased fuel efficiency can be obtained at the expense of slower responses, by increasing the values of these parameters.     

Experimentally supported 2D systems based iterative learning control law design for error convergence and performance

This paper considers iterative learning control law design for both trial-to-trial error convergence and along the trial performance. It is shown how a class of control laws can be designed using the theory of linear repetitive processes for this problem where the computations are in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). It is also shown how this setting extends to allow the design of robust control laws in the presence of uncertainty in the dynamics produced along the trials. Results from the experimental application of these laws on a gantry robot performing a pick and place operation are also given.