Anticonvulsant and glutamate release-inhibiting properties of the highly potent metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (2S,2''R, 3''R)-2-(2'',3''-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG-IV)

IgA has an important function in the gastrointestinal immune system. We investigated IgA anti-ganglioside antibodies in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Fisher's syndrome (FS) subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. In previous studies, serological diagnosis of C. jejuni infection was based on the detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM anti-C. jejuni antibodies. Our study, however, showed that the detection of IgG anti-C. jejuni antibody alone was sufficient for the serological diagnosis of antecedent C. jejuni enteritis in GBS and FS, when the cut-off level was defined for results of sera from C. jejuni-isolated patients. Serological evidence of C. jejuni infection was found in 62 (31%) of 201 GBS patients and 12 (18%) of 65 FS patients. IgA anti-GMI antibody was detected in sera from 33 (16%) of the GBS patients, 1 (2%) of the FS patients, and none of the 46 normal control subjects. IgA anti-GM1 antibody titers were significantly higher in the GBS patients with positive C. jejuni serology than in those with negative serology (P < 0.0001) or the FS patients with positive C. jejuni serology (P = 0.007). IgA anti-GQ1b antibody was detected in sera from 18 (28%) of the FS patients, 9 (4%) of the GBS patients, and none of the normal control subjects. FS patients with positive C. jejuni serology had significantly higher titers of IgA anti-GQ1b antibody than those with negative serology (P = 0.01) or the GBS patients with positive C. jejuni serology (P < 0.0001). We conclude that anti-GM1 and anti-GQ1b IgA antibodies are closely associated with antecedent C. jejuni enteritis in GBS and FS, respectively.     

An empirical comparison between stochastic and deterministic centroid initialisation for K-means variations

Machine Learning - K-Means is one of the most used algorithms for data clustering and the usual clustering method for benchmarking. Despite its wide application it is well-known that it suffers...     

Application of Piezoelectric Actuator and Compliant Structures to Achieve Flapping Wing Motion for a MAV

Micro Aerial Vehicles(MAVs)are the smallest artificial aircraft.Most of the flapping wings MAVs are powered by electric motors of various capacities.We report in this paper the application of piezoelectric actuators as power system for a flapping wing MAV using a compliant displacement amplification mechanism.The actuator used for this application is a pre-stressed cut piece of TH-7R type Thunder actuator.A two-bar compliant mechanism with two flexures has been developed to convert the linear displacement into angular movement and amplification.The specimens were made from carbon fiber links and nylon flexures.We also proposed to use the product of frequency(F)and tip displacement(D),F*D as a criteria for the characterization of an amplifying mechanism.The best specimen according tO this criterion is obtained for a 5mm length flexure specimen made of three layers of nylon.The F*D value obtained for this specimen was 0.58 Hz.m.ANSYS finite element analysis results for different flexural thickness and Iengths were obtained and have been compared to the experimental results.The effect of both the thickness and length of the flexure on a particular arrangement has been discussed.     

Characteristics of an Alpha Particle Positive Point to Plane Corona-Streamer Counter in Air

Operational alpha counting characteristics have been obtained for a point-plane counter in air working in the corona-streamer mode. Hemispherically capped wires and rods were used as anodes having diameters 1.0 mm - 3.5 mm and spaced 0.6 cm - 2.0 cm from a flat polished tungsten cathode.     

Potential problems and limitations of energy conservation and energy efficiency

We discuss that whilst energy conservation and energy efficiency both ultimately have the same goal they attempt to achieve this via very different approaches. We then discuss how both options face significant barriers to ultimately successfully reduce electricity consumption.     

Are energy efficiency standards within the electricity sector a form of regulatory capture?

There is a growing trend to introduce energy efficiency standards at the state level. We examine why electricity utilities may be in favor of such a standard and conclude that energy efficiency standards may be a form of regulatory capture.     

Use of sterically stabilized polymer colloids as electrostatically-based liquid developers

Liquid immersion development (LID) of a latent electrostatic image has become established as an important alternative to dry toning during the past decade. In this development method, a charged, colloidally stable colored particle that is dispersed in a dielectric fluid undergoes electrophoresis under the influence of an applied field. These particles then neutralize a latent electrostatic image of opposite polarity, which resides on either a photoreceptor drum or on dielectric paper. This results in a hard copy of the latent image being obtained. In this paper we outline the physicochemical properties that are demanded of a liquid toner and describe an alternative approach to the preparation of a LID materials package. This new approach utilizes a nonaqueous polymer colloid as the vehicle, which when colored and charged, gives a LID toner. The advantage of nonaqueous dispersions is that the steric stabilizer is irreversibly attached to the particle. Since desorption of the stabilizer is not a problem, these materials are colloidally stable for an indefinite period of time. The particles were colored using both dyes and pigments. While neither approach was entirely satisfactory, the feasibility of coloring such particles was demonstrated. A positive charge was imparted to the particles by specific adsorption of the cation of a metal soap at the polymer–fluid interface. It was found that these experimental LID toners were able to develop a latent electrostatic image in a commercially available printer with the image being well fixed to the paper. While this approach has not been optimized, it appears to be an attractive route for preparing novel LID developers.     

Synthesis of styrene–isoprene A2B2 hetero-armed star copolymers

Styrene–isoprene A₂B₂ star copolymers having two arms of polystyrene and two of polyisoprene have been synthesised. Two routes have been followed. In the first, 2 moles of polydienyl lithium were coupled, without loss of carbanionic character, by reacting with 1 mole of 1,3-bis(1-phenylethenyl) benzene. The difunctional adduct was then used to initiate the polymerisation of styrene in the presence of a small amount of triethylamine which served to ensure a rapid crossover. In the second route, 2 moles of polystyrl lithium were coupled with 1 mol of SiCl₄ in benzene; no attendant formation of three-armed star was detected. Introduction of large excess of polyisoprenyl lithium, together with triethylamine as catalyst, generated the star which was isolated by fractional precipitation.