On the centers of a language

The center of a language has been defined in [7, 8, 9] as the set of all words which have infinite right completions in the language. In this paper we extend this notion by taking into account also left and two-sided completions. Thus, for any language X, we consider the left center C_l(X), the right center C_r(X) and two different bilateral centers C₁(X) and C₂(X). Some properties of these centers are derived. In particular the main results of the paper give some general conditions under which C₁(X)=C₂(X)and C_r(C_l(X))=C_l(C_r(X)). These conditions deal with ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ iteration properties and ‘periodicity’ of a language.     

Identification of Biomarkers in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Multiple Sclerosis Patients by Immunoproteomics Approach

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. At present, the molecular mechanisms causing the initiation, development and progression of MS are poorly understood, and no reliable proteinaceous disease markers are available. In this study, we used an immunoproteomics approach to identify autoreactive antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients to use as candidate markers with potential diagnostic value. We identified an autoreactive anti-transferrin antibody that may have a potential link with the development and progression of MS. We found this antibody at high levels also in the serum of MS patients and created an immunoenzymatic assay to detect it. Because of the complexity and heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis, it is difficult to find a single marker for all of the processes involved in the origin and progression of the disease, so the development of a panel of biomarkers is desirable, and anti-transferrin antibody could be one of these.     

Taking advantage of hysteresis in methane partial oxidation over Pt on honeycomb monolith

A honeycomb monolith with a Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst has been tested in order to highlight and explain the bifurcation behavior of catalytic methane (partial) oxidation under process conditions, elucidating the light off behavior. With CH₄/O₂=1 (rich mixture) and different heating/cooling policies it has been shown that hysteresis occurs only after complete ignition of the catalyst. The dependence of hysteresis on the feed composition was studied, showing that it disappears with lean mixtures, has its maximum for slightly richer than stoichiometric mixtures and then decreases with much richer composition. At the same time, the ignition temperature lowers with increasing CH₄/O₂ ratio. Finally, we suggest a procedure to decrease the ignition temperature by taking advantage of the hysteretic behavior, gradually tuning the feed composition, with the only limit given by the thermal insulation capabilities.     

African origin of human T-lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2) supported by a potential new HTLV-2d subtype in Congolese Bambuti Efe Pygmies

We identified a potential new subtype within human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2), HTLV-2d, present in members of an isolated Efe Bambuti Pygmy tribe. Two of 23 Efe Pygmies were HTLV-2 seropositive, with HTLV-2 Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reactivities. From one of them the entire genome of the HTLV-2 strain Efe2 could be amplified and sequenced. In all gene regions analyzed, this strain was the most divergent HTLV-2 strain, differing by 2.4% (tax/rex) to 10.7% (long terminal repeat) from both subtypes HTLV-2a and HTLV-2b, yet major functional elements are conserved. The similarity between the HTLV-2 Efe2 Gag and Env proteins and the corresponding HTLV-2a and -2b proteins is consistent with the observed serological reactivity. In the proximal pX region, one of the two alternative splice acceptor sites is abolished in HTLV-2 Efe2. Another interesting feature of this potential new subtype is that it has a Tax protein of 344 amino acids (aa), which is intermediate in length between the HTLV-2a Tax protein (331 aa) and the HTLV-2b and -2c Tax proteins (356 aa) and similar to the simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (STLV-2) PP1664 Tax protein. Together these two findings suggest a different phenotype for the HTLV-2 Efe2 strain. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the Pygmy Efe2 strain potentially belonged to a new and quite divergent subtype, HTLV-2d. When the STLV-2 bonobo viruses PP1664 and PanP were used as an outgroup, it was clear that the Pygmy HTLV-2 Efe2 strain had the longest independent evolution and that HTLV-2 evolution is consistent with an African origin.     

Dense array connections for photovoltaic systems in concentration

Two new types of connections for photovoltaic cells in dense array are presented. These connections, making use of dc–dc converter modules, are shown to increase the power transfer to the load with respect to array realized with series o parallel connections for the same number of cells. The present connections are of particular interest in concentration photovoltaic (CPV) systems where the intensity of the incident light on each cell of the array can be very different causing the cells of the same array working with different current–voltage (I–V) curves. The two types of connection and the classical series and parallel connections are compared on a theoretical basis. Applications of the connections in real working scenarios are illustrated and discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robot Systems [Grand Challenges of Robotics]

The field of modular self-reconfigurable robotic systems addresses the design, fabrication, motion planning, and control of autonomous kinematic machines with variable morphology. Modular self-reconfigurable systems have the promise of making significant technological advances to the field of robotics in general. Their promise of high versatility, high value, and high robustness may lead to a radical change in automation. Currently, a number of researchers have been addressing many of the challenges. While some progress has been made, it is clear that many challenges still exist. By illustrating several of the outstanding issues as grand challenges that have been collaboratively written by a large number of researchers in this field, this article has shown several of the key directions for the future of this growing field     

Exploiting second-order advantage using PARAFAC2 for fast HPLC-DAD quantification of mixture of aflatoxins in pistachio nuts

A new methodology using second-order calibration based on PARAllel FACtor analysis 2 (PARAFAC2) is developed for fast quantification of aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ in pistachio samples by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC-DAD). Solvent and solid phase extractions were used for sample preparation steps. In this work, a gradient elution programme was optimised to make co-elutions between analytes and also to shorten the analysis time. Prediction was made on synthetic and real validation samples with a mixture calibration design. Special circumstances such as overlapping of analytes, the lack of spectral selectivity and also the lack of trilinearity, have been compensated with “mathematic separation” through PARAFAC2 modelling. The results showed an acceptable performance of PARAFAC2 for resolution and quantification of all analytes in a single array exploiting the second-order advantage. With the proposed method, the chromatographic run time and also the time for data analysis were reduced significantly.     

Mechanical Behavior of CrMo4 Steel With Dual-Phase Microstructure

Multi-phase microstructures having good ductility may replace the conventional microstructures in different technological applications such as pressure vessels.Mechanical properties including the fracture behavior and the service life of pressure vessels are strongly affected by the microstructure.The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between different dual-phase microstructures and mechanical properties of 42CrMo4 (AISI 4140) steel.To produce the martensite-bainite (M-B),the martensite-ferrite (M-F),and the ferrite-bainite (F-B) microstructures,the step quenching heat treatment was used.Mechanical properties of heat treated samples including the strength,ductility,and impact energy were measured.Tensile experiments revealed a discontinuous yielding in the F-B specimen with ferritic matrix.Fracto\graphic results showed high concentration bright facets (BFs) on broken specimen surfaces indicating the brittle cleavage fracture was the predominant mechanism in the dual-phase microstructures.