IL-4- and IL-5-secreting lymphocyte populations are preferentially stimulated by parasite-derived antigens in human tissue invasive nematode infections

Helminth infections in humans and animals are associated with strong T helper 2 (Th2) responses. To determine whether parasite-derived Ag preferentially expand a Th2-like cell population, a filter immunoplaque assay was used to enumerate the frequencies (F0) of PBMC and CD4(+)-enriched PBMC from individuals with helminth infections secreting selected cytokines in response to parasite-derived (PAg) and nonparasite antigens (NPAg). In 20 individuals with lymphatic filariasis, frequency analysis of PBMC secreting IL-4 and IFN-gamma indicated that the F0 of PAg-specific IL-4-secreting cells (geometric mean F0 (GM): 1/12,100) was 57-fold higher than the corresponding F0 of NPAg-reactive cells (GM: 1/692,000; p < 0.02). In marked contrast, the F0 of IFN-gamma-secreting cells responding to PAg (GM: 1/2,700) did not differ from those of cells specific for NAPg (GM: 1/3,400; p = 0.83). In another group of helminth-infected individuals, the F0 of highly enriched CD4+ cells secreting IL-4 and IL-5 in response to PAg (GMs: 1/2,600 and 1/5,600 CD4+ cells, respectively) were also found to be significantly higher than those specific for NPAg (GMs: 1/291,000 and 1/303,000 CD4+; p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas the corresponding F0 of IFN-gamma- and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF-secreting cells were equivalent for PAg and NPag. Furthermore, the proportion of PAg-specific IL-4- and IL-5-secreting CD4+ cells relative to all cells secreting the given cytokine were approximately 29-fold higher than the proportion of NPAg-specific cells secreting these cytokines. Again, the corresponding proportions of Ag-specific IFN-gamma-and GM-CSF-secreting CD4+ cells were equivalent for PAg and NPAg. Thus, in this ex vivo system, a circulating population of IL-4- and IL-5-secreting (Th2-like) cells has been shown to exist in humans; PAg appears to expand these cells preferentially.     

Equalization with oversampling in multiuser CDMA systems

Some of the major challenges in the design of new-generation wireless mobile systems are the suppression of multiuser interference (MUI) and inter-symbol interference (ISI) within a single user created by the multipath propagation. Both of these problems were addressed successfully in a recent design of A Mutually Orthogonal Usercode-Receiver (AMOUR) for asynchronous or quasisynchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) systems. AMOUR converts a multiuser CDMA system into parallel single-user systems regardless of the multipath and guarantees ISI mitigation, irrespective of the channel locations. However, the noise amplification at the receiver can be significant in some multipath channels. In this paper, we propose to oversample the received signal as a way of improving the performance of AMOUR systems. We design Fractionally Spaced AMOUR (FSAMOUR) receivers with integral and rational amounts of oversampling and compare their performance with the conventional method. An important point that is often overlooked in the design of zero-forcing channel equalizers is that sometimes, they are not unique. This becomes especially significant in multiuser applications where, as we will show, the nonuniqueness is practically guaranteed. We exploit this flexibility in the design of AMOUR and FSAMOUR receivers and achieve noticeable improvements in performance.     

Optimal size,hydraulic retention time and volatile solids loading rate of biogas unit using water hyacinth

With a view to evaluate the effects of hydraulic retention time and volatile solids loading rate on methane production using water hyacinth, experiments were conducted in a 160 dm³ capacity, well-mixed continuous digestion unit at ambient temperature. The optimal design of biogas plant using water hyacinth was elucidated, to provide a unit giving a maximum methane yield of 0.16 nm³ kg^?1 volatile solids added, which was 60% greater than the conventional plant using cowdung. The calculations of optimal design factors were based on reactor size, hydraulic retention time and volatile solids loading rate; considerations were made of capital cost, running costs and operational revenue.     

High-power 1320-nm wafer-bonded VCSELs with tunnel junctions

A new long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure is described that utilizes AlGaAs-GaAs mirrors bonded to AlInGaAs-InP quantum wells with an intracavity buried tunnel junction. This structure offers complete wavelength flexibility in the 1250-1650 nm fiber communication bands and reduces the high free-carrier losses and bonded junction voltage drops in previous devices. The intracavity contacts electrically bypass the bonded junctions to reduce threshold voltage. N-type current spreading layers and undoped AlGaAs mirrors minimize optical losses. This has enabled 134/spl deg/C maximum continuous-wave lasing temperature, 2-mW room-temperature continuous-wave single-mode power, and 1-mW single-mode power at 80/spl deg/C, in various devices in the 1310-1340 nm wavelength range.     

Oxygen-enrichment of YBa2Cu3 YBa2Cu3O7-δ using the fluidization techniqueusing the fluidization technique

The oxygen-deficient phase of the highT _c superconductor, YBa₂Cu₃O₇, was oxygen-enriched using the fluidization technique to give good superconducting properties. The normal method of oxygen treatment at 900°C for 24 h and at 600°C for 24 h has been reduced to just one treatment at 600°C for 12 h by the fluidization technique to achieve almost the same strength of superconducting signal for the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ powder, which establishes the attractiveness of the latter route for the large-scale preparation of superconducting material. The particle sizes were in the range 0–90, 90–180 and 180–420 μm. The fluidized particles were crystalline with orthorhombic distortion.T _c ^onset , estimated using the a.c. magnetic susceptibility method, was 91·3 K. The volume fraction of superconducting material in the product was 83·7–85·3%, one of the highest values reported so far for YBa₂Cu₃O₇.     

Subspace-Based Blind Channel Identification for Cyclic Prefix Systems Using Few Received Blocks

In this paper, a novel generalization of subspace-based blind channel identification methods in cyclic prefix (CP) systems is proposed. For the generalization, a new system parameter called repetition index is introduced whose value is unity for previously reported special cases. By choosing a repetition index larger than unity, the number of received blocks needed for blind identification is significantly reduced compared to all previously reported methods. This feature makes the method more realistic especially in wireless environments where the channel state is usually fast-varying. Given the number of received blocks available, the minimum value of repetition index is derived. Theoretical limit allows the proposed method to perform blind identification using only three received blocks in absence of noise. In practice, the number of received blocks needed to yield a satisfactory bit-error-rate (BER) performance is usually on the order of half the block size. Simulation results not only demonstrate the capability of the algorithm to perform blind identification using fewer received blocks, but also show that in some cases system performance can be improved by choosing a repetition index larger than needed. Simulation of the proposed method over time-varying channels clearly demonstrates the improvement over previously reported methods.     

Correction to the Fukuda-Kawata Young's modulus theory and the Fukuda-Chou strength theory for short fibre-reinforced composite materials

The theories for modulus and strength of short fibre-reinforced composite materials are based on the calculation of the force sustained by fibres crossing an arbitrary line perpendicular to the applied load, called the scan line, in a thin, rectangular specimen. The widely referenced Fukuda-Kawata modulus theory and the Fukuda-Chou strength theory are based on an apparently incorrect procedure for the calculation of the force sustained by the fibres crossing the scan line. The error is explained in detail by comparing the Fukuda-Kawata modulus theory and the Cox modulus theory. The magnitude of this error is calculated for specific cases.     

Oxide scale stresses in polycrystalline Ni200

An X-ray diffraction (sin² ψ) method has been successfully used to measure the oxidation stresses at room temperature in annealed and electropolished samples of polycrystalline Ni200 coupons oxidized in the temperature range 760 to 982° C for 4 h. The stresses on the free surface of the oxide (σ ₁₁ andσ ²²) were compressive and the average stress through the thickness normal to the oxide layer was found to be tensile. Surface stresses on the oxides formed at temperatures up to 927° C were found to be isotropic and both surface stresses and the average normal stress increased with increasing temperature of oxidation. At 982° C, the surface stresses were lower and this was attributed to the deformation and fracture of oxide layer resulting in stress relaxation.     

Electrochemical behaviour of Mn3+/Mn2+, Co3+/Co2+ and Ce4+/Ce4+ redox mediators in methanesulfonic acid

The redox behaviour of Mn³⁺/Mn²⁺, Co³⁺/Co²⁺ and Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ mediators commonly used in indirect oxidation of organic compounds were evaluated in methane sulfonic acid on a glassy carbon working electrode employing cyclic voltammetry. Manganic methanesulfonate exhibits higher instability in dilute methanesulfonic acid. The solid MnO₂ formed during disproportionation on the glassy carbon electrode further affects the reproducibility. Cobaltic methanesulfonate formation occurs only at oxygen evolution region rendering the overall oxidation process less efficient. Ceric methane sulfonate formation is highly efficient over a wide acid concentration range. Ceric methanesulfonate can also be employed over a wide temperature range to oxidize different aromatic compounds.     

VOID FRACTION PROFILES IN PLANE-POISEUILLE FLOW OF VISCOELASTIC FOAMS

This investigation focuses on slow, isothermal, two-phase flow of gas bubble suspensions in Separan solutions, prepared with the help of a sodium borohydride blowing agent at room temperature. The total residence time in these experiments is much smaller than characteristic times for growth or rise of bubbles. The variation of bubble volume fraction across a narrow gap between two planes, is recorded at two locations along the flow direction. This is done with a Cesium gamma-radiation source focused on a region of area.012 cm² in the flow plane, and a Sodium iodide detector across the channel yielding a resolution of.01 over the range of void fractions investigated from.02 to.08. This measurement allows us to identify conditions under which the two-phase flow may be described by a two fluid model with a uniform bubbly core and a bubble free wall layer. With this two phase flow structure, a relative viscosity equation for the suspension is used to compute an apparent viscosity. Such calculations indicate that the observed reduction in apparent viscosity for the two phase flow may be attributed to a bubbly core which is more shear thinning than the medium. The additional shear thinning factor for the suspension is related to the elasticity of the medium.