T cell responsiveness correlates differentially with antibody isotype levels in clinical and asymptomatic filariasis

To establish the relationships among T and B cell responses, active infection, and clinical manifestations in lymphatic filariasis, filarial-specific lymphocyte proliferation, IgG antibody isotypes, and IgE levels were determined in an exposed population: 31 asymptomatic amicrofilaremics, 43 microfilaremics, 12 symptomatic amicrofilaremics, and 52 elephantiasis patients. Lymphocyte proliferation was higher in elephantiasis patients and asymptomatic amicrofilaremics than in microfilaremics (P < .004). A proportion of asymptomatic amicrofilaremics (32%), elephantiasis patients (37%), and symptomatic amicrofilaremics (58%) showed antigen-specific lymphocyte unresponsiveness, and lymphocyte proliferation to filarial antigens correlated negatively with specific IgG4 levels (rho = -0.315, P < .001). As elevated specific IgG4 is an indicator of active infection, it is argued that active infection may result in lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness irrespective of clinical category. Of those with elevated specific IgE levels and high T cell proliferative responses, 70% had elephantiasis, suggesting these factors have a role in pathology. However, the existence of a proportion of elephantiasis patients with low anti-filarial IgE and T cell unresponsiveness to filarial antigens suggests that elephantiasis can be caused by distinct processes.     

An investigation into formatting and layout errors produced by blind word-processor users and an evaluation of prototype error prevention and correction techniques

This paper presents the results of an investigation into tools to support blind authors in the creation and checking of word processed documents. Eighty-nine documents produced by 14 blind authors are analyzed to determine and classify common types of layout and formatting errors. Based on the survey result, two prototype tools were developed to assist blind authors in the creation of documents: a letter creation wizard, which is used before the document is produced; and a format/layout checker that detects errors and presents them to the author after the document has been created. The results of a limited evaluation of the tools by 11 blind computer users are presented. A survey of word processor usage by these users is also presented and indicates that: authors have concerns about the appearance of the documents that they produce; many blind authors fail to use word processor tools such as spell checkers, grammar checkers and templates; and a significant number of blind people rely on sighted help for document creation or checking. The paper concludes that document formatting and layout is a problem for blind authors and that tools should be able to assist.     

Effect of MnOx/TiO2 Oxidation State on Ozone Concentration in a Nonthermal Plasma-Driven Catalysis Reactor

Manganese oxides on titanium dioxide were prepared by impregnation method at various calcination temperatures and by deposition-precipitation method and the catalysts were characterized using TG-DTA, XRD, XPS, and N₂ adsorption. Various oxidation states for manganese were obtained and activity towards ozone decomposition inside a nonthermal plasma catalysis reactor was investigated. Activity tests show that with increasing manganese oxidation state, the greater the degree of ozone decomposition inside the reactor. MnOx/TiO₂ prepared by impregnation method calcined at 350 °C showed the highest decrease in ozone concentration.     

Wear resistance characteristics of materials used in oil sands plants

The surge in demand for natural resources has shifted the focus of the international community toward the development of oil sands, shale oil, shale gas and other non-traditional energy sources. In extreme environments, materials used in petroleum gas plant modules are accompanied by various problems caused by low-temperature brittleness such as damage, corrosion and wear. Many researchers have been conducting studies to discover a suitable material whose lifespan could be improved by performing characteristics analyses and performance assessments. In this study, a material characteristics assessment was conducted based on a wear resistance test on materials that are commonly used at oil sands plants. Prior to a wear resistance test, a chemical composition analysis was performed on each of the specimens, and tensile, impact, hardness and corrosion tests were carried out to examine the correlation between their results with the results of the wear resistance test. Each test was performed according to ASTM G 105 standards, and the change in weight according to wear length was analysed for each material to determine the related tendencies. In addition, the results of the wear test were derived by analysing the change in the mass of the specimen before and after the test, and the surface roughness was assessed to analyse the performance related to wear and define the service life. The aim was to use these results to select a material that would be suitable for the abrasive environment of the key equipment and materials of plants.     

Removal of refractory compounds from stabilized landfill leachate using an integrated H2O2 oxidation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption treatment

This study investigated the treatment performances of H₂O₂ oxidation alone and its combination with granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption for raw leachate from the NENT landfill (Hong Kong) with a very low biodegradability ratio (BOD₅/COD) of 0.08. The COD removal of refractory compounds (as indicated by COD values) by the integrated H₂O₂ and GAC treatment was evaluated, optimized and compared to that by H₂O₂ treatment alone with respect to dose, contact time, pH, and biodegradability ratio. At an initial COD concentration of 8000 mg/L and NH₃-N of 2595 mg/L, the integrated treatment has substantially achieved a higher removal (COD: 82%; NH₃-N: 59%) than the H₂O₂ oxidation alone (COD: 33%; NH₃-N: 4.9%) and GAC adsorption alone (COD: 58%) at optimized experimental conditions (p ≤ 0.05; t-test). The addition of an Fe(II) dose at 1.8 g/L further improved the removal of refractory compounds by the integrated treatment from 82% to 89%. Although the integrated H₂O₂ oxidation and GAC adsorption could treat leachate of varying strengths, treated effluents were unable to meet the local COD limit of less than 200 mg/L and the NH₃-N of lower than 5 mg/L. However, the integrated treatment significantly improved the biodegradability ratio of the treated leachate by 350% from 0.08 to 0.36, enabling the application of subsequent biological treatments for complementing the degradation of target compounds in the leachate prior to their discharge.     

Low-cost adsorbents for heavy metals uptake from contaminated water: a review

In this article, the technical feasibility of various low-cost adsorbents for heavy metal removal from contaminated water has been reviewed. Instead of using commercial activated carbon, researchers have worked on inexpensive materials, such as chitosan, zeolites, and other adsorbents, which have high adsorption capacity and are locally available. The results of their removal performance are compared to that of activated carbon and are presented in this study. It is evident from our literature survey of about 100 papers that low-cost adsorbents have demonstrated outstanding removal capabilities for certain metal ions as compared to activated carbon. Adsorbents that stand out for high adsorption capacities are chitosan (815, 273, 250 mg/g of Hg(2+), Cr(6+), and Cd(2+), respectively), zeolites (175 and 137 mg/g of Pb(2+) and Cd(2+), respectively), waste slurry (1030, 560, 540 mg/g of Pb(2+), Hg(2+), and Cr(6+), respectively), and lignin (1865 mg/g of Pb(2+)). These adsorbents are suitable for inorganic effluent treatment containing the metal ions mentioned previously. It is important to note that the adsorption capacities of the adsorbents presented in this paper vary, depending on the characteristics of the individual adsorbent, the extent of chemical modifications, and the concentration of adsorbate.     

Low Complexity Antenna Selection Scheme for Multicarrier MIMO Broadcast Communication

A low complexity antenna selection scheme for multicarrier MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) broadcast systems is proposed in this paper. Under special condition of single user in the system or when the number of subcarrier is only one, the system reduces to conventional MIMO-OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system or MIMO-BC (Broadcast Channel) system respectively. By analysing sub-optimal antenna selection schemes developed earlier for single user MIMO-OFDM systems and single carrier MIMO-BC systems, one can see many similarities which can be extended to multicarrier MIMO broadcast systems. The proposed method exploits these similarities to obtain a low complexity system design with acceptable performance. The performance of the proposed scheme is studied via extensive simulation, and the computational complexity involved is compared to the conventional scheme. A selection gain of approximately 0.5 b/s/Hz is shown to be achievable using only two out of three antennas, and the proposed scheme is able to achieve up to 90% of the gain. This is achieved at a complexity that is significantly lower than the conventional methods, hence the practical implementation of the proposed scheme can be justified.     

Older people and mobile phones: A multi-method investigation

This paper investigates issues related to the use of mobile phones by people aged 60 years and over and characteristics of an ageing-friendly mobile phone. This study combines qualitative and quantitative analysis methods of Delphi interviews, focus group discussions, and online survey. The expert interviews and the focus group discussions covered usage patterns, problems, benefits, and desired and unwanted features. The issues raised in the discussions were translated into an online survey of 100 people. This study revealed that older people are passive users of mobile phones, that they experience fear of consequences of using unfamiliar technology, and that most preferred design features are aids for declining functional abilities. Gender differences in preferred design features were observed, with women focusing on haptic aids and men on perceptual aids.     

Temperature-Dependent Giant Magnetoimpedance Effect in Amorphous Soft Magnets

Giant magnetoimpedance (GMI)-based devices offer potential as next-generation low-cost, flexible, ultrasensitive sensors. They can be used in applications that include current sensors, field sensors, stress sensors, and others. Challenging applications involve operation at high temperatures, and therefore studies of GMI temperature dependence and performance of soft magnetic materials are needed. We present a high-temperature GMI study on an amorphous soft magnetic microwire from room temperature to 560°C. The GMI ratio was observed to be nearly constant at ～86% at low temperatures and to decrease rapidly at ～290°C, finally reaching a near-zero value at 500°C. The rapid drop in GMI ratio at 290°C is associated with a reduction in the long-range ferromagnetic order as measured by the spontaneous magnetization (M) at the Curie temperature (T _c). We also correlated the impedance with the magnetic properties of the material. From room temperature to 290°C, the impedance was found to be proportional to the square root of the magnetization to magnetic anisotropy ratio. Lastly, M(T) has been fit using a Handrich–Kobe model, which describes the system with a modified Brillouin function and an asymmetrical distribution of exchange interactions. We infer that the structural fluctuations of the amorphous phase result in a relatively small asymmetry in the fluctuation parameters.