Human lung cancer antigens recognized by autologous antibodies: definition of a novel cDNA derived from the tumor suppressor gene locus on chromosome 3p21.3

Supplementation with high doses of alpha-tocopherol has increased the oxidation resistance of LDL in many clinical trials. There have been only a few placebo-controlled trials in healthy persons of alpha-tocopherol doses usually contained in dietary supplements. We carried out a single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to examine the effect of 200 mg RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/d on the oxidation resistance of atherogenic lipoproteins (VLDL+LDL including intermediate-density lipoproteins) in 40 smoking men. VLDL+LDL oxidation resistance was assessed as conjugated dienes after copper induction and hemin degradation after hydrogen peroxide induction. Also, the LDL total peroxyl-radical trapping antioxidant parameter (LDL TRAP) and plasma malondialdehyde were measured at baseline and after 2 mo of supplementation. Plasma RRR-alpha-tocopherol concentrations were measured at 2-h intervals for 12 h at baseline and after 2 mo of supplementation. Compared with placebo, 200-mg RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation elevated plasma and VLDL+LDL alpha-tocopherol concentrations, LDL TRAP, and oxidation resistance of VLDL+LDL. Plasma alpha-tocopherol increased by 88% (P < 0.0001), VLDL+LDL alpha-tocopherol increased by 90% (P < 0.0001), and LDL TRAP by 58% (P < 0.0001). The time to the start of oxidation (lag time) was prolonged by 34% when assessed with a copper-induced method and by 109% when assessed with a hemin + hydrogen peroxide-induced method; the time to maximal oxidation was prolonged by 21% (copper-induced method) in the vitamin E-supplemented group. Changes in plasma alpha-tocopherol, lipid-standardized alpha-tocopherol, and VLDL+LDL alpha-tocopherol correlated significantly with changes in LDL TRAP, lag time, and time to maximal oxidation. Differences in changes between groups in the area under the curve for plasma alpha-tocopherol were significant (P < 0.009). Our results suggest that 200 mg oral RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/d had a clear effect on the in vitro oxidation of VLDL+LDL in smoking men.     

High-power GaInP-AlGaInP quantum-well lasers grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy

AlGaInP-based quantum-well laser diodes operating at wavelengths near 680 nm have been grown by all solid source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE). The lowest room temperature threshold current densities obtained from shallow ridge structures were 300 A/cm/sup 2/ and 330 A/cm/sup 2/ for pulsed and continuous wave operation, respectively. The dependences of the differential quantum efficiency and threshold current density on the cavity length were also studied in this preliminary SSMBE work. The internal quantum efficiency of 87-89% and the internal losses of 7-10 cm/sup -1/ were obtained.     

Influence of the purity of the starting materials on the recording of dynamic holograms in Bi12TiO20 crystals

The parameters of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ crystals grown with bismuth oxide of different degrees of purity were measured by a holographic recording technique in an external ac electric field and were compared with a crystal specially doped with chromium. Various crystal parameters such as the diffusion length of the photoexcited carriers and the Debye screening length were determined. It was found that the absorption spectrum of the material and the holographic recording efficiency were strongly influenced by light chromium doping and by insufficient purity of the starting mixture. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 27–32 (March 12, 1997)     

Effect of material characteristics of polyolefins on weld line morphology and its correlation to mechanical properties

The effect of a weld line on the tensile, tensile impact and environmental stress cracking properties of a number of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) samples has been investigated. The observed mechanical behaviour has been correlated to material properties, and also to the weld line morphology. PE samples differed in branching, molar mass (Mw) and molar mass distribution (MWD), whereas the PP samples differed in nucleation. The morphology of the weld line formed in injection moulding was analysed by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical strength was studied by tensile, tensile impact and constant tensile stress methods. In polyethylene samples with a high Mw, the weld line area was seen through the skin layer to the shear layer, and even down to the beginning of the core layer. The effect of a high Mw on morphological changes was diminished by a broad MWD. Short chain branching limited the morphological change solely to the skin layer. Both PP samples were morphologically rather homogeneous. The weld line created a V-notch on the surface that acted as a crack initiator in mechanical tests and thus reduced the mechanical strength of the weld line samples. The V-notch mainly hid the effect of the morphology on the mechanical properties. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Psychiatric disorders and homicide recidivism

There are no firm epidemiologic data concerning psychiatric disorders associated with homicide recidivism. The authors studied all homicide recidivists who were incarcerated in Finnish prisons or high-security hospitals and had committed their last offense during the 3-year period July 1, 1988-June 30, 1991. All recidivists (13 subjects) could be considered to suffer from either severe alcoholism combined with personality disorder (N = 11, 85%) or from schizophrenia (N = 2, 15%).     

Joint data rate and power allocation for lifetime maximization in interference limited ad hoc networks

In this paper, we consider the following problem in the wireless ad hoc network: Given a set of paths between source and destination, how to divide the data flow among the paths and how to control the transmission rates, times, and powers of the individual links in order to maximize the operation time of the worst network node. If all nodes are of equal importance, the operation time of the worst node is also the lifetime of the network. By solving the problem, our aim is to investigate how the network lifetime is affected by link conditions such as the maximum transmission power of a node and the peak data rate of a link. For the purpose, we start from a system model that incorporates the carrier to interference ratio (CIR) into a variable data rate of a link. With this, we can develop an iterative algorithm for the lifetime maximization, which resembles to the distributed power control in cellular systems. Numerical examples on the iterative algorithm are included to illustrate the network lifetime as a function of the maximum transmission power and the peak data rate.     

Computational complexity of queries based on itemsets

We investigate determining the exact bounds of the frequencies of conjunctions based on frequent sets. Our scenario is an important special case of some general probabilistic logic problems that are known to be intractable. We show that despite the limitations our problems are also intractable, namely, we show that checking whether the maximal consistent frequency of a query is larger than a given threshold is NP-complete and that evaluating the Maximum Entropy estimate of a query is PP-hard. We also prove that checking consistency is NP-complete.     

The language of quarterly reports as an indicator of change in the company’s financial status

This paper adopts a multi-methodological approach to information systems research in order to produce new information through data mining. This approach is particularly suitable for mining material that consists of both qualitative and quantitative information. The contents of quarterly reports from three telecommunications companies were compared. The study focused on the years 2000–2001, a period of economic decline for many IT companies. The central quantitative data, reflected by seven financial ratios, were visualised using self-organising maps. The qualitative data, consisting of the textual contents of the reports, were visualised using collocational networks; these showed the relationships between the central concepts in the texts. As the visualisations of the contents were compared, certain patterns could be found. The results seemed to suggest that changes in the networks indicated future changes in the self-organising maps. In the cases studied, a change in the textual data usually indicated a change in the financial data in the following quarter. This may be a consequence of the fact that the texts reflected the plans and future expectations of management, whereas the financial ratios reflected the current financial situation of the company.     

The evolving tree-analysis and applications

In this paper, we enhance and analyze the Evolving Tree (ETree) data analysis algorithm. The suggested improvements aim to make the system perform better while still maintaining the simple nature of the basic algorithm. We also examine the system's behavior with many different kinds of tests, measurements and visualizations. We compare the ETree's performance against classical data analysis methods and very similar modern systems. We find that the ETree is a suitable method for unsupervised analysis of huge data sets.     

High-rate sulphidogenic fluidised-bed treatment of metal-containing wastewater at high temperature.

The applicability of fluidised-bed reactor (FBR) based sulphate reducing bioprocess was investigated for the treatment of iron containing (40-90 mg/L) acidic wastewater at 65 degrees C. The FBR was inoculated with sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) originally enriched from a hot mining environment. Ethanol or acetate was supplemented as carbon and electron source for the SRB. A rapid startup with 99.9, 46 and 29% ethanol, sulphate and acetate removals, in respective order, was observed even after 6 days. Iron was almost completely removed with a rate of 90 mg/L.d. The feed pH was decreased gradually from its initial value of 6 to around 3.7 during 100 days of operation. The wastewater pH of 4.3-4.4 was neutralised by the alkalinity produced in acetate oxidation and the average effluent pH was 7.8 +/- 0.8. Although ethanol removal was complete, acetate accumulated. Later the FBR was fed with acetate only. Although acetate was present in the reactor for 295 days, its oxidation rates did not improve, which may be due to low growth rate and poor attachment ability of acetate oxidising SRB. Hence, the oxidation of acetate is the rate limiting step in the sulphidogenic ethanol oxidation by the thermophilic SRB.