Generalized study of crank-rocker mechanisms driven by a d.c. motor Part II. Applications

Simulation studies are performed for two different 4-bar mechanisms using separately-excited d.c. motors for actuation. The dynamic time-response analyses are carried out by means of numerical solution of the governing state equations on a digital computer. The influence of system parameters, including both motor properties and mechanism properties, on various performance characteristics is investigated, and the results are presented in the form of nondimensional graphs. These graphs help in understanding the interaction between the mechanism and its d.c. drive and are a start at obtaining generalized, quantitative information for the design of actuator-mechanism systems.     

Mitosene-DNA adducts. Characterization of two major DNA monoadducts formed by 1,10-bis(acetoxy)-7-methoxymitosene upon reductive activation

Reductive activation of racemic 1,10-bis(acetoxy)-7-methoxymitosene WV15 in the presence of DNA, followed by enzymatic digestion and HPLC analysis, revealed the formation of various DNA adducts. Reduction is a necessary event for adduct formation to occur. This reductive activation was performed under hypoxic conditions in various ways: (1) chemically, using a 2-fold excess of sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4), (2) enzymatically using NADH-cytochrome c reductase, (3) electrochemically on a mercury pool working electrode, and (4) catalytically, using a H2/PtO2 system. Five different mitosene-DNA adducts were detected. These adducts were also present when poly(dG-dC) was used instead of DNA, but were absent with poly(dA-dT). All were shown to be adducts of guanine. Reduction of 1, 10-dihydroxymitosene WV14 in the presence of DNA did not result in detectable adduct formation, demonstrating the importance of good leaving groups for efficient adduct formation by these mitosenes. Finally, two of the adducts were isolated and their structures elucidated, using mass spectrometry, 1H NMR and circular dichroism (CD). The structures were assigned as the diastereoisomers N2-(1"-n-hydroxymitosen-10"-yl), 2'-deoxyguanosine (n = alpha or beta). These type of adducts, in which the mitosene C-10 is covalently bonded to the N-2 of a guanosylic group, are different from the well-known mitomycin C 2'-deoxyguanosine monoadducts, that is linked via the mitomycin C C-1 position, demonstrating that the order of reactivity of the C-1 and C-10 in these mitosenes is reversed, as compared to mitomycin C. The 7-methoxy substituent of WV15 is a likely factor causing this switch. Evidence is presented that the 7-substituent of mitosenes also influences their DNA alkylation site. Adducts 4 and 5 represent the first isolated and structurally characterized covalent adducts of DNA and a synthetic mitosene.     

Roots & uprisings of the RPA

Health promotion is the desired objective of dialysis treatment. Achieving the highest level of functioning not only improves the life of the patient but rewards the staff through the positive feedback that improvement produces. The facility is rewarded by a stable population producing a more secure stream of income. The therapeutic environment is improved through better communication, positive attitudes, and more active participation of patients in their care. When maximum health is the focus of care, activities to achieve health are part of routine clinical contact, not additional effort requiring more staff. Fundamental to achieving health is adequate dialysis, control of anemia, good nutrition, and attention to comorbid conditions. The "Five Es" Life Options model of rehabilitation is a pattern for pursuing health and life enhancement. Encouragement is the positive attitude and expectations for each patient. Evaluation is individualized planning and periodic assessment of progress. Education prepares the patient for participation and responsibility. Exercise (on dialysis and off) improves physical capacity and well being. Employment is sought for those of working age and capability. A number of facilities have shown the effectiveness and benefits of these practices. In addition, using health status/quality of life measures to obtain patient-reported assessment of condition allows objective scoring. Comparisons and compilations can be made to evaluate the effect of interventions or illness on status. This can be accomplished for groups or individuals to document the effect of health promotion.     

Horsefeathers: A commentary on "Evolutionary versus prototype analyses of the concept of disorder."

J. C. Wakefield's (see record 1999-03409-002) article further develops his harmful dysfunction (HD) model for disorder concepts. This commentary focuses on three areas. The first notes the imbalance in the debate between the S. O. Lilienfeld and L. Marino (see record 1995-43832-001) Roschian model and the HD model for disorder concepts. The second claims that Wakefield's purposes for the HD model have changed over the years and progressed toward irrelevance to psychopathology in general and toward irrelevance to actual nosologic, reimbursement, and sociopolitical controversies about disorder status. Further discussion is on how certain structural elements in Wakefield's arguments and current limitations of evolutionary theory permit a superficially attractive model for psychopathology. These arguments and limitations, however, harbor serious problems when confronted with actual disputes about disorders. The conclusion notes some virtues to Wakefield's inquiry, in style and substance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conserved residues amino-terminal of cytoplasmic tyrosines contribute to the SHP-1-mediated inhibitory function of killer cell Ig-like receptors

The heart has been recognized as a major target of thyroid hormone action. Our study investigates both the regulation of cardiac-specific genes and contractile behavior of the heart in the presence of a mutant thyroid hormone receptor beta1 (T3Rbeta1-delta337T) derived from the S kindred. The mutant receptor was originally identified in a patient with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone. Cardiac expression of the mutant receptor was achieved by a transgenic approach in mice. As the genes for myosin heavy chains (MHC alpha and MHC beta) and the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA2) are known to be regulated by T3, their cardiac expression was analyzed. The messenger RNA levels for MHC alpha and SERCA2 were markedly down-regulated, MHC beta messenger RNA was up-regulated. Although T3 levels were normal in these animals, this pattern of cardiac gene expression mimics a hypothyroid phenotype. Cardiac muscle contraction was significantly prolonged in papillary muscles from transgenic mice. The electrocardiogram of transgenic mice showed a substantial prolongation of the QRS interval. Changes in cardiac gene expression, cardiac muscle contractility, and electrocardiogram are compatible with a hypothyroid cardiac phenotype despite normal T3 levels, indicating a dominant negative effect of the T3Rbeta mutant.     

Lymphotoxin alphabeta is expressed on recently activated naive and Th1-like CD4 cells but is down-regulated by IL-4 during Th2 differentiation

Lymphotoxin (LT) is a cytokine that orchestrates lymphoid neogenesis and formation of germinal center reactions. LT exists as a membrane heterotrimer of alpha and beta subunits and is secreted as a homotrimer, LTalpha3. Using LTbetaR.Fc, expression of LTalphabeta on CD4 T cell subsets was investigated in a TCR transgenic model. LTalphabeta was evident 24-72 h after activation of naive T cells with specific Ag, and declined thereafter. Early expression was independent of IFN-gamma and IL-12, however, IL-12 prolonged expression. LTalphabeta was reinduced within 2-4 h after Ag restimulation, but declined by 24 h regardless of IL-12 or IFN-gamma priming. Exposure of naive T cells to IL-4 did not affect early LTalphabeta expression at 24 h, but resulted in subsequent down-regulation. IL-4-differentiated Th2 effectors did not re-express LTalphabeta, and LTalphabeta was transiently found on Th1 clones but not Th2 clones. LTalpha3 and TNF were immunoprecipitated from supernatants and lysates of IL-12 primed cells but not IL-4 primed cells. These studies demonstrate that LTalphabeta is expressed by activated naive CD4 cells, unpolarized IL-2-secreting effectors, and Th1 effectors. In contrast, loss of surface LTalphabeta and a lack of LTalpha3 and TNF secretion is associated with prior exposure to IL-4 and a Th2 phenotype.     

Bounds on bearing and symbol estimation with side information

We develop Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) for bearing, symbol, and channel estimation of communications signals in flat-fading channels. We do this using the constrained CRB formulation of German and Hero (1990), and Stoica and Ng (see IEEE Signal Processing Lett., vol.5, p.177-79, 1998), with the unknown parameters treated as deterministic constants. The equality constraints may be combined arbitrarily, e.g., we may develop CRBs for bearing estimation of constant modulus (CM) signals where a subset of the symbols are known (semi-blind, CM case). The results establish the value of side information in a large variety of communications scenarios. We focus on the CM and semi-blind properties and develop closed-form CRBs for these cases. Examples are presented indicating the relative value of the training and CIM property. These show the significant amount of signal processing information provided under these two conditions. In addition, we consider the performance of the maximum-likelihood beamformer for the semi-blind case, assuming the bearings are known. This semi-blind beamformer achieves the appropriate (constrained) CRB with finite data at finite SNR. Analysis also reveals that in a semi-blind scenario with two closely spaced sources, ten or more training symbols are sufficient to achieve the asymptotic training regime. Together with previous results on angle estimation for known sources, these results indicate that relatively few training samples enable both angle estimation and closely spaced co-channel source separation that approaches the CRB with finite data and finite SNR     

Do landscape factors affect brownfield carabid assemblages?

The carabid fauna of 28 derelict sites in the West Midlands (England) were sampled over the course of one growing season (April-October, 1999). The study aimed to investigate the relationship between carabid assemblages and five measures of landscape structure pertinent to derelict habitat. At each site measurements of landscape features pertinent to derelict habitat were made: (i) the proximity of habitat corridors; (ii) the density of surrounding derelict land; (iii) the distance between the site and the rural fringe; and (iv) the size of the site. Concurrent surveys of the soil characteristics, vegetation type, and land use history were conducted. The data were analysed using a combination of ordination (DCA, RDA), variance partitioning (using pRDA) and binary linear regression. The results suggest that: 1. There is very little evidence that the carabid assemblages of derelict sites were affected by landscape structure, with assemblages instead being principally related to within-site habitat variables, such as site age (since last disturbance), substrate type and vegetation community. 2. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that sites away from railway corridors are impoverished in their carabid fauna than sites on corridors. 3. There are some suggestions from this study that rarer and non-flying specialist species may be affected by isolation, taking longer to reach sites. We infer from this that older sites with retarded succession, and sites in higher densities of surrounding derelict land may eventually become more species rich and that these sites may be important for maintaining populations of rarer and flightless species. 4. Conservation efforts to maintain populations of these species should focus principally on habitat quality issues, such as maintaining early successional habitats that have a diversity of seed producing annuals and perennial plants and enhancing substrate variability rather than landscape issues.