Software for the Support of Learning and Teaching in Electromagnetics

Abstract The study of Electromagnetics is required in most electrical engineering graduate and undergraduate curricula. Traditional methods for teaching Electromagnetics are abstract, theoretical and filled with large number of mathematical equations. Thus, they are not anymore appropriate. The solution is to provide to both professors and students an interactive software with a simplified graphical interface to best teach and learn fundamentals of Electromagnetism. Interactive resources have demonstrated that they were attractive and encouraged the students to be active and autonomous. The aim of this work is to present such interactive software. This software introduces the students to fundamentals of Electromagnetics and provides them with better ways to understand complicated concepts. It uses the calculation functions of Matlab, combined with the powerful graphical user interfaces of Java

HLA-A*01:03, HLA-A*24:02, HLA-B*08:01, HLA-B*27:05, HLA-B*35:01, HLA-B*44:02, and HLA-C*07:01 Monochain Transgenic/H-2 Class I Null Mice: Novel Versatile Preclinical Models of Human T Cell Responses

We have generated a panel of transgenic mice expressing HLA-A*01:03, -A*24:02, -B*08:01, -B*27:05, -B*35:01, -B*44:02, or -C*07:01 as chimeric monochain molecules (i.e., appropriate HLA α(1)α(2) H chain domains fused with a mouse α(3) domain and covalently linked to human β(2)-microglobulin). Whereas surface expression of several transgenes was markedly reduced in recipient mice that coexpressed endogenous H-2 class I molecules, substantial surface expression of all human transgenes was observed in mice lacking H-2 class I molecules. In these HLA monochain transgenic/H-2 class I null mice, we observed a quantitative and qualitative restoration of the peripheral CD8(+) T cell repertoire, which exhibited a TCR diversity comparable with C57BL/6 WT mice. Potent epitope-specific, HLA-restricted, IFN-γ–producing CD8(+) T cell responses were generated against known reference T cell epitopes after either peptide or DNA immunization. HLA-wise, these new transgenic strains encompass a large proportion of individuals from all major human races and ethnicities. In combination with the previously created HLA-A*02:01 and -B*07:02 transgenic mice, the novel HLA transgenic mice described in this report should be a versatile preclinical animal model that will speed up the identification and optimization of HLA-restricted CD8(+) T cell epitopes of potential interest in various autoimmune human diseases and in preclinical evaluation of T cell–based vaccines