NK cell proliferation and inflammation

Considerable progress has been made in recent years in understanding the biology of NK cells. NK cells are no longer 'null cells', but express an array of functionally important molecules with which they mediate and regulate their cytolytic activity and the cytokines they secrete. Activation and proliferation of NK cells in influenced by cytokines produced by activated monocytes (IL-15, IL-12, IL-10) and activated T cells (IL-2). This paper reviews the phenotype and effector functions of NK cells, their tissue distribution, and evidence that NK cells proliferate in vivo as part of productive or pathologic consequences of immunity.     

Laser scanning path generation considering photopolymer solidification in micro-stereolithography

It is essential to automate the scanning path generation process to effectively implement the micro-stereolithography. However, a scanning path that is generated based only on a 3D CAD model introduces dimensional inaccuracies. In micro-stereolithography, the photopolymer solidification is affected by fabrication conditions, such as the optical properties (laser power, laser scanning speed, laser scanning pitch focusing condition, etc.) and material properties of the photopolymer. Thus, the photopolymer solidification phenomena must be considered when generating a laser scanning path. In this paper, a scanning path generation algorithm that uses 3D CAD data and considers the photopolymer solidification phenomena is proposed to improve the dimensional accuracy in micro-stereolithography. Multi-line photopolymer solidification experiments were performed for various laser scanning conditions to examine the photopolymer solidification phenomena. From these experiments, linear relations between the solidification length (width) and scanning length (width) were acquired and stored in a database. Subsequently, these data were utilized to compensate the scanning path of the laser beam. In addition, experiments for determining the layer thickness in the z-direction were performed and these results were also used in the scanning path generation algorithm.This research was supported by the Highly Advanced National Project (http://www.most.go.kr), which performs some of the National R&D Program, and sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology under the contract project code M10214000116-02B1500-02010.     

An ideal topology type convergent theorem on scale effect algebras

The famous Antosik-Mikusinski convergent theorem on the Abel topological groups has very extensive applications in measure theory, summation theory and other analysis fields. In this paper, we establish the theorem on a class of effect algebras equipped with the ideal topology. This paper shows also that the ideal topology of effect algebras is a useful topology in studying the quantum logic the- ory.     

Corrosion Condition Evaluation at Muddy Creek Bridge

Corrosion rates were measured at the exposed spots of rebars near three corners of Muddy Creek Bridge located in northern West Virginia using a 3LP device. Also, chloride contents of the concrete samples taken from the vicinity of the spots were analyzed using a wet chemical method that had been developed in this study. The average corrosion rate over the three spots was 4.66 mA/m2, which is in the range of corrosion damage possible in 10–15 years. The average chloride content of the concrete over the three spots was 703 parts per million (ppm), which is well above the threshold limit value of 260 ppm. Although the corrosion rate measurement method using a 3LP device is by manual operation, it is found to be reliable and effective, and, thus, recommended for future studies of this kind of research. The wet chemical method developed in this study is found to be effective.     

Effects of reducing and oxidizing atmospheres on the PTCR characteristics of porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics by adding polyethylene glycol

Donor doped BaTiO₃ (n-BaTiO₃) ceramics were fabricated by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 20 wt %. The effects of reducing and oxidizing atmospheres on the PTCR characteristics of the porous n-BaTiO₃ ceramics were investigated. The PTCR characteristics of the porous n-BaTiO₃ ceramics is strongly affected by chemisorbed oxygen at the grain boundaries and are recovered as the atmosphere is changed from the reducing gas to oxidizing gas. The low room-temperature resistivity of the porous n-BaTiO₃ ceramics in reducing atmospheres may be caused by the decrease in potential barrier height, which originates from an increase in the number of electrons owing to the desorption of chemisorbed oxygen atoms at the grain boundaries. In addition, the high room-temperature resistivity of the porous n-BaTiO₃ ceramics in oxidizing atmospheres may be caused by the increase in potential barrier height, which results from the adsorption of chemisorbed oxygen atoms at the grain boundaries.     

Robust Space Time Receiver for CDMA-based Antenna Arrays

In this paper, we propose a new robust code division multiple access (CDMA) receiver of which weight vector is obtained by projecting the effective spatio-temporal signature waveform onto the signal subspace of the data covariance matrix. We verified our proposed algorithm by the field measured data obtained with a custom-built wideband CDMA test-bed. It will be shown that the proposed algorithm is robust to the signal mismatch.     

Noninvasive evaluation of the lower extremity arterial tree and graft surveillance

The application of duplex ultrasonography in the evaluation of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease and in graft surveillance has enhanced significantly the vascular surgeon's diagnostic armamentarium. With continued refinements in gray scale image resolution, color flow, and spectral analysis, color duplex ultrasonography eventually will replace angiographic evaluation in carefully selected patients as the primary pre-interventional testing modality.     

Multi-level simulation of metal-forming processes

The IBF has for some years made use of finite element programmes to solve metal-forming problems. In the course of this investigation, it has become evident that a problem-oriented adaptation of FEM simulation to the problem in hand is beneficial in terms of computation effort. The computation time for the process parameters is optimised in a multi-level simulation. At level 1 (global analysis) integral parameters such as the required force and required work are computed using a coarse FEM mesh. At level 2 (local analysis) an optimised number of elements is used to determine continuum mechanics parameters like stress, strain and temperature. Microscopic phenomena are simulated at level 3 (microscopic analysis), using special micro-material elements and thermodynamic models.     

A typed functional extension of logic programming

A logic language is suitable for specification if it is equipped with features for data abstraction and modularization. In this paper, an effective mechanism to incorporate function and type into logic programming is presented as the means to embed data abstraction mechanism into logic programming. This incorporation is essentially based on Horn clause logic with equality and a polymorphic type system that is an extension of Mycroft and O’Keefe’s system. This paper also presents an implementation based on Warren Abstract Machine (WAM) and shows the performance, along with a comparison with WAM.