Antenna phase pattern measurements at millimeter wave frequencies using the differential phase method with only one power meter

The differential phase measurement method has been improved to need the use of only one power meter instead of three power meters. This enables accurate antenna phase pattern measurements with a simplified set-up, accompanied by the reduction in cost. All advantages of the differential phase measurement method are still also available, e.g. there is no need to phase lock oscillators or to use rotary joints. The measurement results for an antenna at 110 GHz are presented. A good agreement with earlier data was obtained.     

Infinite factorization of multiple non-parametric views

Combined analysis of multiple data sources has increasing application interest, in particular for distinguishing shared and source-specific aspects. We extend this rationale to the generative and non-parametric clustering setting by introducing a novel non-parametric hierarchical mixture model. The lower level of the model describes each source with a flexible non-parametric mixture, and the top level combines these to describe commonalities of the sources. The lower-level clusters arise from hierarchical Dirichlet Processes, inducing an infinite-dimensional contingency table between the sources. The commonalities between the sources are modeled by an infinite component model of the contingency table, interpretable as non-negative factorization of infinite matrices, or as a prior for infinite contingency tables. With Gaussian mixture components plugged in for continuous measurements, the model is applied to two views of genes, mRNA expression and abundance of the produced proteins, to expose groups of genes that are co-regulated in either or both of the views. We discover complex relationships between the marginals (that are multimodal in both marginals) that would remain undetected by simpler models. Cluster analysis of co-expression is a standard method of screening for co-regulation, and the two-view analysis extends the approach to distinguishing between pre- and post-translational regulation.     

Effects of sample drying and storage,and choice of extraction solvent and analysis method on the yield of birch leaf hydrolyzable tannins

In this study, I investigated the effects of different methods of sample drying and storage, and the choice of extraction solvent and analysis method on the concentrations of 14 individual hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), and insoluble ellagitannins in birch (Betula pubescens) leaves. Freeze- and vacuum-drying of birch leaves were found to provide more reliable results than air- or oven-drying. Storage of leaves at –20C for 3 months before freeze-drying did not cause major changes in tannin content, although levels of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloylglucose and isostrictinin were altered. Storage of dried leaf material at –20C is preferred because 1 year storage of freeze-dried leaves at 4C and at room temperature decreased the concentration of the pedunculagin derivative, one of the main ellagitannins of birch. Furthermore, storage at room temperature increased the levels of isostrictinin and 2,3-(S)-HHDP-glucose, indicating possible HT catabolism. Of the extraction solvents tested, aqueous acetone was superior to pure acetone, or aqueous or pure methanol. The addition of 0.1% ascorbic acid into 70% acetone significantly increased the yield of ellagitannins, presumably by preventing their oxidation. By comparing the conventional rhodanine assay and the HPLC–ESI-MS assay for quantification of leaf galloylglucoses, the former tends to underestimate total concentrations of galloylglucoses in birch leaf extract. On the basis of the outcomes of all the method and solvent comparisons, their suitability for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant HTs is discussed, emphasizing that each plant species, with its presumably unique HT composition, is likely to have a unique combination of ideal conditions for tissue preservation and extraction.     

On the state complexity of reversals of regular languages

We compare the number of states between minimal deterministic finite automata accepting a regular language and its reversal (mirror image). In the worst case the state complexity of the reversal is 2ⁿ for an n-state language. We present several classes of languages where this maximal blow-up is actually achieved and study the conditions for it. In the case of finite languages the maximal blow-up is not possible but still a surprising variety of different growth types can be exhibited.     

Genes without prominence: a reappraisal of the foundations of biology

The sequencing of the human genome raises two intriguing questions: why has the prediction of the inheritance of common diseases from the presence of abnormal alleles proved so unrewarding in most cases and how can some 25 000 genes generate such a rich complexity evident in the human phenotype? It is proposed that light can be shed on these questions by viewing evolution and organisms as natural processes contingent on the second law of thermodynamics, equivalent to the principle of least action in its original form. Consequently, natural selection acts on variation in any mechanism that consumes energy from the environment rather than on genetic variation. According to this tenet cellular phenotype, represented by a minimum free energy attractor state comprising active gene products, has a causal role in giving rise, by a self-similar process of cell-to-cell interaction, to morphology and functionality in organisms, which, in turn, by a self-similar process entailing Darwin''s proportional numbers are influencing their ecosystems. Thus, genes are merely a means of specifying polypeptides: those that serve free energy consumption in a given surroundings contribute to cellular phenotype as determined by the phenotype. In such natural processes, everything depends on everything else, and phenotypes are emergent properties of their systems.     

An experimental investigation into the pre-treatment of synthetic membranes using sodium hydroxide solutions

In this paper the effect of two pre-treatment methods are compared experimentally for the filtration of (i) a spent sulphite liquor (17.8 wt.% dry solids) using a 20 kg mol⁻¹ molar mass cut off (MMCO) fluoropolymer membrane and (ii) a molasses solution (45° Brix) using a polysulphone (Psf) membrane (1.5 μm pore size). Both feeds are industrially relevant, and subject to severe fouling issues when membranes are used in their subsequent processing. The pre-treatment methods evaluated were: (i) conditioning with water at 60 °C only [Protocol 1], and (ii) conditioning with water at 60 °C followed by cleaning with 0.5 wt.% NaOH [Protocol 2]. Results are presented that confirm the benefits of sodium hydroxide preconditioning upon performance, supporting the suggestion by some membrane manufacturers that this step be included as part of the pre-treatment protocol.     

Specific Bifidobacterium strains isolated from elderly subjects inhibit growth of Staphylococcus aureus

Cell-free, pH-controlled supernatants of thirty-eight Bifidobacterium strains isolated from healthy elderly subjects were subjected to antimicrobial activity assay. Bioluminescent indicator strains Staphylococcus aureus RN4220, Escherichia coli K-12, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028 were used as targets of antimicrobial activity. The effect of nutrient depletion on the inhibition was eliminated with spent-culture controls. Three out of thirty-eight Bifidobacterium strains were capable of inhibiting the growth of S. aureus. The inhibition was equal to 23.2+/-19.1% to 50.4+/-26.7% of the inhibition caused by 50 IU/ml nisin. Reuterin-producing positive strain Lactobacillus reuteri SD2112 was capable of 86.0+/-24.6% inhibition, but Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12, a known probiotic strain, showed no inhibition. None of the strains was capable of inhibiting the growth of E. coli or S. enterica. The observed inhibition by bifidobacteria was related to hydrogen peroxide formation and possible production of heat-stable proteinaceous compounds. The results suggest that production of antimicrobial substances other than organic acids is not common among Bifidobacterium strains typical of elderly subjects. However, specific strains were identified which showed considerable inhibitory activity against S. aureus.