Background and objective: Complementary to the CCR5-Delta32 mutation polymorphisms in the genes of CCR2b (CCR2b-V64 I) and stromal derived factor (SDF)-1 (SDF-1 3'A) affect the course of the human immunodeficiency...
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Background and objective: Complementary to the CCR5-Delta32 mutation polymorphisms in the genes of CCR2b (CCR2b-V64 I) and stromal derived factor (SDF)-1 (SDF-1 3'A) affect the course of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. While the CCR5-Delta32 mutation is also increased in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection it is unclear, whether the CCR2b-V64 I and the SDF-1 3'A polymorphisms also are associated with chronic HCV infection. Methods: We analyzed the frequencies of the CCR2b-V64I and SDF1-3'A mutation in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection (n = 130), HIV infection (n = 105), HCV infection (n = 153) and 112 healthy blood donors. We stratified each group into homozygous mutations, heterozygous mutations and homozygous wildtypes, respectively. The resulting subsets were compared with respect to HIV and HCV loads, CD4 and CD8 cell counts. Results: The mutant SDF1-3'A allele was found at 20.3% frequency in patients with HCV infection and at 20.4% frequency in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection, respectively. It was present in 27.1% of the patients with HIV infection and 27.9% of the healthy controls (not significant). The number of SDF-1 3'A homozygous patients was highest in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection and significantly different compared to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p = 0.010, chi(2) = 9.15). However, CD4- and CD8-cell counts or viral loads were not affected by this mutation. The frequency of the CCR2b-V64 I allele was similar in all patient groups. However, CCR2b-V64 I heterozygous patients showed HIV loads that were threefold lower than in CCR2b wildtype patients (22.9 x 10(3) vs. 6.4 x 10(3) copies/ml, not significant). Furthermore, hepatitis C viral loads were reduced roughly by 30%. Conclusion: These results suggest that the SDF1-3'A and CCR2b-V64I mutations do not affect the course of HCV and HIV/HCV infection in the same manner as does the CCR5-Delta32 mutation.
A methodology is presented for the hierarchical structured design of state diagram specifications. It is based on a set of restrictions on the composition of the hierarchy that allows a design to be proven correct by ...
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A methodology is presented for the hierarchical structured design of state diagram specifications. It is based on a set of restrictions on the composition of the hierarchy that allows a design to be proven correct by construction. Furthermore, silicon primitives are introduced that permit a direct mapping of asynchronous and synchronous state diagrams. Special attention is paid to the use of scanpath testability enhancement. The design methodology and implementation technique combined facilitate a fast and area efficient integration of control structures. From the development of a DRAM controller IC, it is shown how layout design can be automated through several phases of standard cell design, permitting silicon compilation in the near future.
It is the purpose of this paper to give a theory of the effect of regeneration using the solution of a non-linear differential equation, and to present experimental verification of the theory. It is shown that: (a) as...
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It is the purpose of this paper to give a theory of the effect of regeneration using the solution of a non-linear differential equation, and to present experimental verification of the theory. It is shown that: (a) as a first approximation, detection has no effect on the radio-frequency grid voltage developed under the influence of an incoming signal, (b) the amplification obtained through regeneration equals the two-thirds power of the ratio of the "grid space" to the amplitude obtained with zero regeneration. It is apparent from (b) that much greater gain is obtained through regeneration with weak signals than with strong signals. The verification of the theory is made with a circuit arrangement operating at 500 cycles per second. Application is made to radio frequencies using this as a model of a high-frequency system, following a theorem for model systems which is stated.
Growth factors and cytokines play an important role in supporting cellular viability of various tissues during development due to their ability to suppress the default cell death program in each cell type. To date, ne...
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Growth factors and cytokines play an important role in supporting cellular viability of various tissues during development due to their ability to suppress the default cell death program in each cell type. To date, neither the triggering molecule nor the transduction pathway of these default apoptosis programs is understood. In this study, we explored the possibility that cytokine receptors are involved in modulating cytokine withdrawal-induced apoptosis (CWIA) in hematopoietic cells. Expression of the exogenous cytokine receptor common beta chain (beta c), but not the alpha chains, accelerated CWIA in multiple cytokine-dependent cell lines. Reduction of the expression level of endogenous beta c by antisense transcripts resulted in prolonged survival during cytokine deprivation, suggesting a critical role of beta c in modulating CWIA. Fine mapping of the beta c subunit revealed that a membrane-proximal cytoplasmic sequence, designated the death enhancement region (DER), was critical to the death acceleration effect of beta c. Furthermore, DER accelerated cell death either as a chimeric membrane protein or as a cytosolic protein, suggesting that DER functions independently of the cytokine receptor and membrane anchorage. Cross-linking of the chimeric membrane-bound DER molecules by antibody or of the FK506-binding protein-DER fusion protein by a synthetic dimerizing agent, AP1510, did not abrogate the death acceleration effect. Transient transfection assays further indicated that DER promoted cell death in the absence of serum in the nonhematopoietic 293 cell line. In summary, our data suggest that beta c plays an important role in modulating CWIA via an anchorage-independent and aggregation-insensitive mechanism. These findings may facilitate further studies on the signaling pathways of CWIA.
A previously developed time-domain iterative inverse-scattering method is generalized to the problem of reconstructing the susceptibility of an inhomogeneous lossless dielectric slab from frequency-domain reflection d...
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A previously developed time-domain iterative inverse-scattering method is generalized to the problem of reconstructing the susceptibility of an inhomogeneous lossless dielectric slab from frequency-domain reflection data. In subsequent iteration steps, approximations for the electric field inside the slab and the unknown susceptibility profile are obtained by alternately solving an approximate direct-scattering problem and an approximate inverse-scattering problem. Numerical results are presented and discussed.
The sidewalls of trenches on 100-mm wafers were doped by implantation with an implanter whose beam scan is accurately parallel over the whole wafer surface. The doping was characterized with a staining technique and t...
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The sidewalls of trenches on 100-mm wafers were doped by implantation with an implanter whose beam scan is accurately parallel over the whole wafer surface. The doping was characterized with a staining technique and transmission electron microscopy. All the trenches exhibited symmetrical doping, with the main differences between trenches from the center and edge of a wafer being due to nonuniformity of the trench etching rather than the implant step. Although the measurements were made on 100-mm wafers, symmetrical doping should be achievable for all trenches on wafers up to 200 nm in diameter.< >
A relationship between temperature behavior of the resonant frequency FR, the antiresonant frequency FA, and the coupling factor k is given by an equation of the form FA/FA- FR/FR= Gk/k. The factor G as a function of ...
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A relationship between temperature behavior of the resonant frequency FR, the antiresonant frequency FA, and the coupling factor k is given by an equation of the form FA/FA- FR/FR= Gk/k. The factor G as a function of the coupling factor and the order of overtone is calculated for both piezoelectrically unstiffened and stiffened modes. An application of this relationship yields the curve of turnover temperature versus the coupling factor of X-cut lithium tantalate resonators.
A sectionalized structure-oriented model is used for the description of the DC behavior of a multicollector integrated injection logic (I/SUP 2/L) gate. The model includes high-injection effects in the p-n-p transisto...
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A sectionalized structure-oriented model is used for the description of the DC behavior of a multicollector integrated injection logic (I/SUP 2/L) gate. The model includes high-injection effects in the p-n-p transistor base and lateral base resistance in the n-p-n transistor. Methods for measuring the base resistance are outlined. The validity of the obtained model is demonstrated by measurement and simulation of two methods of measuring upward current gain.
Long-term in situ soil and water conservation experiments are rare in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Eastern Africa. A long-term experiment was conducted (2005-2013) on a Vertisol to quantify the impacts of resou...
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Long-term in situ soil and water conservation experiments are rare in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Eastern Africa. A long-term experiment was conducted (2005-2013) on a Vertisol to quantify the impacts of resource-conserving agriculture (RCA) on runoff, soil loss, soil fertility and crop productivity and economic profitability in northern Ethiopia. Two RCA practices were developed from traditional furrow tillage practices: (i) derdero+ (DER+) and terwah+ (TER+). DER+ is a furrow and permanent raised bed planting system, tilled once at planting time by refreshing the furrow and 30% of crop residue is retained. TER+ is ploughed once at planting, furrows are made at 1.5 m intervals and 30% crop residue is retained. The third treatment was a conventional tillage (CT) with a minimum of three tillage operations and complete removal of crop residues. Wheat, teff, barley and grass pea crops were grown in rotation. Runoff, and soil and nutrient loss were measured in plastic sheet-lined collector trenches. Significantly different (P < 0.05) runoff coefficients (%) and soil losses (t ha(-1)) averaged over 9 yrs were 14 and 3, 22 and 11 and 30 and 17 for DER+, TER+ and CT, respectively. Significant improvements in crop yield and gross margin were observed after a period of three years of cropping This study demonstrated that RCA systems in semi-arid agro-ecosystems constitute a field rainwater conservation and soil fertility improvement strategy that enhances crop productivity and economic profitability. Adoption of RCA systems (DER+ and TER+) in the study area requires further work to improve smallholder farmers' awareness on benefits, to guarantee high standards during implementation and to design appropriate weed management strategies.
The differential equation of a frequency modulated transmitter is considered and the expression of the current as a function of time is derived. Frequency analysis of this function is made for two specific cases, (A) ...
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The differential equation of a frequency modulated transmitter is considered and the expression of the current as a function of time is derived. Frequency analysis of this function is made for two specific cases, (A) sinusoidal frequency modulation (telephony) and (B), right-angle frequency modulation (telegraphy with "marking" and "spacing" wave). The distribution and amplitudes of the frequencies present are seen to depend upon the value of an absolute parameter, the "frequency modulation index," equal to the ratio of the maximum frequency deviation to the imposed modulating frequency. The overall width of the band occupied is found to be approximately double the highest of these two frequencies. In the case of high-speed frequency modulated telegraphy, however, side frequencies of noticeable amplitude may occur outside this band. Charts are included showing the derived frequency spectra.
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