Distance Properties of Short LDPC Codes and their Impact on the BP, ML and Near-ML Decoding Performance

Parameters of LDPC codes, such as minimum distance, stopping distance, stopping redundancy, girth of the Tanner graph, and their influence on the frame error rate performance of the BP, ML and near-ML decoding over a BEC and an AWGN channel are studied. Both random and structured LDPC codes are considered. In particular, the BP decoding is applied to the code parity-check matrices with an increasing number of redundant rows, and the convergence of the performance to that of the ML decoding is analyzed. A comparison of the simulated BP, ML, and near-ML performance with the improved theoretical bounds on the error probability based on the exact weight spectrum coefficients and the exact stopping size spectrum coefficients is presented. It is observed that decoding performance very close to the ML decoding performance can be achieved with a relatively small number of redundant rows for some codes, for both the BEC and the AWGN channels

Low thermal sensitivity hollow core fibre for optically-switched data centre applications

We demonstrate 20-times greater tolerance to temperature variation using hollow core fibres compared to SMF-28 in a fast optical switching system. With frequency and once-only phase synchronisation, we obtained error-free transmission of short packets with <625ps clock recovery time in 25.6 Gb/s real-time systems

Imaging Subtle Microstructural Variations in Ceramics with Precision Ultrasonic Velocity and Attenuation Measurements

There is an international research effort to incorporate ceramic components into hot sections of heat engines. A major portion of this effort is directed towards the understanding and control of ceramic processing so that the strength of ceramics may be optimized. To date, the strength of sintered ceramics (e.g., SiC) is well below, by about two orders of magnitude, the theoretical strength [1,4]. This discrepancy is understood to be due to the presence of voids, inclusions, agglomerates, and anomalously large grains [4]. These defects, causing premature failure, are introduced or formed during the ceramic manufacturing process. Considerable work has already been done to remove these strength reducing material variations. This has resulted in a steady increase in the fracture strength of ceramics; however, the rate of this increase has slowed. Adding to the problem is the fact that the fracture strength of identically produced experimental samples varies as much as 35 percent [2]. As a result of the loss of momentum toward higher strengths, researchers are turning to ceramic- ceramic fiber composites. These composites show promise of increasing the fracture strength of ceramic materials even further. It is likely that the same material strength variations will be present, at least locally in the matrix, in ceramic composites

The role of ethnicity in the attainment and experiences of graduates in distance education

In the UK, the attainment of White graduates (as measured by the class of honours that they have been awarded) tends to be higher than that of graduates from other ethnic groups. This is apparent, in particular, in graduates who have taken courses by distance learning with the Open University. Analysis of data from Open University graduates over three successive years yielded no evidence that the latter trend could be attributed to confounded demographic variables. A postal survey found little variation in perceptions of academic quality or reports of personal development among Open University graduates from different ethnic groups. Quantitative variations in the attainment of graduates from different ethnic groups are not necessarily reflected in qualitative variations in their experience of distance education

ERCC1 expression and RAD51B activity correlate with cell cycle response to platinum drug treatment not DNA repair

Background: The H69CIS200 and H69OX400 cell lines are novel models of low-level platinum-drug resistance. Resistance was not associated with increased cellular glutathione or decreased accumulation of platinum, rather the resistant cell lines have a cell cycle alteration allowing them to rapidly proliferate post drug treatment. Results: A decrease in ERCC1 protein expression and an increase in RAD51B foci activity was observed in association with the platinum induced cell cycle arrest but these changes did not correlate with resistance or altered DNA repair capacity. The H69 cells and resistant cell lines have a p53 mutation and consequently decrease expression of p21 in response to platinum drug treatment, promoting progression of the cell cycle instead of increasing p21 to maintain the arrest. Conclusion: Decreased ERCC1 protein and increased RAD51B foci may in part be mediating the maintenance of the cell cycle arrest in the sensitive cells. Resistance in the H69CIS200 and H69OX400 cells may therefore involve the regulation of ERCC1 and RAD51B independent of their roles in DNA repair. The novel mechanism of platinum resistance in the H69CIS200 and H69OX400 cells demonstrates the multifactorial nature of platinum resistance which can occur independently of alterations in DNA repair capacity and changes in ERCC1

Oxygen and Cation Ordered Perovskite, Ba2Y2Mn4O11

A three-step route has been developed for the synthesis of a new oxygen-ordered double perovskite, BaYMn2O5.5 or Ba2Y2Mn4O11. (i) The A-site cation ordered perovskite, BaYMn2O5+d, is first synthesized at d ~ 0 by an oxygen-getter-controlled low-O2-pressure encapsulation technique utilizing FeO as the getter for excess oxygen. (ii) The as-synthesized, oxygen-deficient BaYMn2O5.0 phase is then readily oxygenated to the d ~ 1 level by means of 1-atm-O2 annealing at low temperatures. (iii) By annealing this fully-oxygenated BaYMn2O6.0 in flowing N2 gas at moderate temperatures the new intermediate-oxygen-content oxide, BaYMn2O5.5 or Ba2Y2Mn4O11, is finally obtained. From thermogravimetric observation it is seen that the final oxygen depletion from d ~ 1.0 to 0.5 occurs in a single sharp step about 600 C, implying that the oxygen stoichiometry of BaYMn2O5+d is not continuously tunable within 0.5 < d < 1.0. For BaYMn2O5.5 synchrotron x-ray diffraction analysis reveals an orthorhombic crystal lattice and a long-range ordering of the excess oxygen atoms in the YO0.5 layer. The magnetic behavior of BaYMn2O5.5 (with a ferromagnetic transition at ~ 133 K) is found different from those previously reported for the known phases, BaYMn2O5.0 and BaYMn2O6.0.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, to appear in J. Solid State Che

Physiological IRE-1-XBP-1 and PEK-1 Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans Larval Development and Immunity

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates the Unfolded Protein Response, a compensatory signaling response that is mediated by the IRE-1, PERK/PEK-1, and ATF-6 pathways in metazoans. Genetic studies have implicated roles for UPR signaling in animal development and disease, but the function of the UPR under physiological conditions, in the absence of chemical agents administered to induce ER stress, is not well understood. Here, we show that in Caenorhabditis elegans XBP-1 deficiency results in constitutive ER stress, reflected by increased basal levels of IRE-1 and PEK-1 activity under physiological conditions. We define a dynamic, temperature-dependent requirement for XBP-1 and PEK-1 activities that increases with immune activation and at elevated physiological temperatures in C. elegans. Our data suggest that the negative feedback loops involving the activation of IRE-1-XBP-1 and PEK-1 pathways serve essential roles, not only at the extremes of ER stress, but also in the maintenance of ER homeostasis under physiological conditions.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant R01-GM084477

Cell-free (RNA) and cell-associated (DNA) HIV-1 and postnatal transmission through breastfeeding

&lt;p&gt;Introduction - Transmission through breastfeeding remains important for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in resource-limited settings. We quantify the relationship between cell-free (RNA) and cell-associated (DNA) shedding of HIV-1 virus in breastmilk and the risk of postnatal HIV-1 transmission in the first 6 months postpartum.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Materials and Methods - Thirty-six HIV-positive mothers who transmitted HIV-1 by breastfeeding were matched to 36 non-transmitting HIV-1 infected mothers in a case-control study nested in a cohort of HIV-infected women. RNA and DNA were quantified in the same breastmilk sample taken at 6 weeks and 6 months. Cox regression analysis assessed the association between cell-free and cell-associated virus levels and risk of postnatal HIV-1 transmission.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results - There were higher median levels of cell-free than cell-associated HIV-1 virus (per ml) in breastmilk at 6 weeks and 6 months. Multivariably, adjusting for antenatal CD4 count and maternal plasma viral load, at 6 weeks, each 10-fold increase in cell-free or cell-associated levels (per ml) was significantly associated with HIV-1 transmission but stronger for cell-associated than cell-free levels [2.47 (95% CI 1.33–4.59) vs. aHR 1.52 (95% CI, 1.17–1.96), respectively]. At 6 months, cell-free and cell-associated levels (per ml) in breastmilk remained significantly associated with HIV-1 transmission but was stronger for cell-free than cell-associated levels [aHR 2.53 (95% CI 1.64–3.92) vs. 1.73 (95% CI 0.94–3.19), respectively].&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusions - The findings suggest that cell-associated virus level (per ml) is more important for early postpartum HIV-1 transmission (at 6 weeks) than cell-free virus. As cell-associated virus levels have been consistently detected in breastmilk despite antiretroviral therapy, this highlights a potential challenge for resource-limited settings to achieve the UNAIDS goal for 2015 of eliminating vertical transmission. More studies would further knowledge on mechanisms of HIV-1 transmission and help develop more effective drugs during lactation.&lt;/p&gt