Objective probability and quantum fuzziness

This paper offers a critique of the Bayesian interpretation of quantum mechanics with particular focus on a paper by Caves, Fuchs, and Schack containing a critique of the "objective preparations view" or OPV. It also aims to carry the discussion beyond the hardened positions of Bayesians and proponents of the OPV. Several claims made by Caves et al. are rebutted, including the claim that different pure states may legitimately be assigned to the same system at the same time, and the claim that the quantum nature of a preparation device cannot legitimately be ignored. Both Bayesians and proponents of the OPV regard the time dependence of a quantum state as the continuous dependence on time of an evolving state of some kind. This leads to a false dilemma: quantum states are either objective states of nature or subjective states of belief. In reality they are neither. The present paper views the aforesaid dependence as a dependence on the time of the measurement to whose possible outcomes the quantum state serves to assign probabilities. This makes it possible to recognize the full implications of the only testable feature of the theory, viz., the probabilities it assigns to measurement outcomes...Comment: 21 pages, no graphics, inspired by "Subjective probability and quantum certainty" (quant-ph/0608190 v2

Human Tracking Function for Robotic Dog

With the increase the increase in automation and humans and robots working side by side, there is a need for a more organic way of controlling robots. The goal of this project is to create a control system for Boston dynamics robotic dog Spot that implements human tracking image software to follow humans using computer vision as well as using hand tracking image software to allow for control input through hand gestures

The role of the maternal immune system in the regulation of human birth weight

This is the accepted manuscript version. It will be embargoed until 12 months after publication by RSC. The final version is available from RCS at http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/370/1663/20140071.longHuman birth weight is subject to stabilizing selection. Large babies are at risk of obstetric complications such as obstructed labour, which endangers both mother and child. Small babies are also at risk with reduced survival. Fetal growth requires remodeling of maternal spiral arteries to provide an adequate maternal blood supply to the placenta. This arterial transformation is achieved by placental trophoblast cells, which invade into the uterine wall. Under invasion is associated with fetal growth restriction; but if invasion is excessive large babies can result. A growing body of evidence suggests that this process is controlled by interactions between KIR receptors expressed on maternal uterine NK cells (uNK) and their corresponding HLA-C ligands on invading trophoblast. Mothers with the KIR AA genotype and a fetus with a paternal HLA-C2 allele tend to have small babies, because this combination inhibits cytokine secretion by uNK. Mothers with the activating KIR2DS1 gene and an HLA-C2 fetus are more likely to have large babies. When KIR2DS1 binds to HLA-C2 this increases secretion of cytokines that enhance trophoblast invasion. We conclude that specific combinations of the highly polymorphic gene systems, KIR and HLAC, contribute to successful reproduction by maintaining birth weight between two extremes.This work was supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust [090108/Z/09/Z], [085992/Z/08/Z] and the British Heart Foundation [PG/09/077/27964]. This work was also supported by a Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Contract [HHSN261200800001E] and by the Intramural Research Program of National Institutes of Health, Frederick National Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research. The authors also thank the Centre for Trophoblast Research, Cambridge for generous support

Random Polynomials Over Finite Fields

The idea of this thesis is to take some questions about polynomials over finite fields and 'answer' them using probability theory; that is, we give the average behaviour of certain properties of polynomials. We tend to deal with multivariate polynomials, so questions about factorisation are not considered. Questions which are considered are ones concerning images and pre-images under a random polynomial mapping, and more generic questions which lead to results on the distributions of certain character sums over finite fields. The methods used are based on those used by Odoni (details in Chapter 2). The probability space from which our random polynomial is chosen is essentially the set of all polynomials up to a given degree d, and we define a random variable associated with this space (for example, the number of zeros of a random polynomial). Once we have enough information about the random variable in question, we obtain asymptotic results about the distribution of this variable by letting both d and the size of the field, q, tend to infinty. The results in this work tend to rely on comparisons between random polynomials (of degree up to d) and random mappings. We therefore do a certain amount of work with random mappings, exploiting nice combinatorial properties which they exhibit, and also using some non-trivial results from the classical theory of random maps. The resulting theorems for random polynomials, when interpreted number-theoretically, are often what one would expect, but every once in a while they cough up a surprise

Mount Carmel Jr./Sr. High School Greenhouse Curriculum and Maintenance Plan

The goal of the project presented in this report was to revitalize the greenhouse at the Mount Carmel Area Jr./Sr. High School in Mount Carmel, PA. The greenhouse had not been used since the early 2000s and it was in need of cleaning, maintenance, and planting before it could be used again. The school hoped for the greenhouse to be revived in order to benefit the students through hands-on course work, as well as various extracurricular activities in order to further engage the students in gardening and sustainability. Along with restoring the greenhouse, the group created curriculum materials for different classroom activities that incorporate the greenhouse. This entry includes three items: the main 26 page project report Mount Carmel Jr./Sr. High School Greenhouse Curriculum and Maintenance Plan, a 2 page Brief Overview of Mount Carmel Greenhouse Project listed under Additional Files, and a short 1 min 46 second video which shows the group\u27s work at the greenhouse. This project was completed for Environmental Studies 411 (ENST 411), a senior capstone course taught by Prof. Ben Marsh

A Comprehensive Quantitative Assay for Amine Transaminases

The development of effective high-throughput screening assays has contributed greatly to the wealth of designer enzymes available, by enabling rapid identification of desired variants from large mutant libraries. Here, we report a general and operationally simple end-point assay for transaminases that enables the screening of both amine donors and acceptors in liquid phase. The spectrophotometric-based screen exploits the amine donor 2aminoethylaniline (2-AEA) and relies on reaction of in situ generated indole with Ehrlich’s reagent. The assay has also been adapted to allow screening in the reverse direction by addition of indole and subsequent spectrophotometric analysis. Importantly, the screen provides qualitative information on the enantio-preference of the individual biocatalysts. To increase the assay throughput, an engineered expression strain (E. coli BL21(DE3) ΔtnaA) lacking tryptophanase activity, was generated to enable reliable and direct evaluation of individual colonies arrayed on agar plates

How Do Uterine Natural Killer and Innate Lymphoid Cells Contribute to Successful Pregnancy?

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the most abundant immune cells in the uterine mucosa both before and during pregnancy. Circumstantial evidence suggests they play important roles in regulating placental development but exactly how they contribute to the successful outcome of pregnancy is still unclear. Uterine ILCs (uILCs) include subsets of tissue-resident natural killer (NK) cells and ILCs, and until recently the phenotype and functions of uILCs were poorly defined. Determining the specific roles of each subset is intrinsically challenging because of the rapidly changing nature of the tissue both during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and high dimensional flow and mass cytometry approaches have recently been used to analyse uILC populations in the uterus in both humans and mice. This detailed characterisation has significantly changed our understanding of the heterogeneity within the uILC compartment. It will also enable key clinical questions to be addressed including whether specific uILC subsets are altered in infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy disorders such as foetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. Here, we summarise recent advances in our understanding of the phenotypic and functional diversity of uILCs in non-pregnant endometrium and first trimester decidua, and review how these cells may contribute to successful placental development

Immunolocalisation of phosphorylated STAT3, interleukin 11 and leukaemia inhibitory factor in endometrium of women with unexplained infertility during the implantation window.

BACKGROUND: Uterine receptivity and embryo implantation are critical in the establishment of pregnancy. The diagnosis of endometrial fertility requires more precise measurements of endometrial receptivity. Interleukin (IL-11) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are essential for murine implantation and signal via intracellular phosphorylation (p) of STAT3 in the endometrium. Both cytokines are present in the endometrium of women duiring the receptive window. Endometrial IL-11, IL-11 receptor alpha (IL-11Ralpha), LIF and pSTAT3 in women with primary unexplained infertility was compared to normal fertile women during the implantation window. METHODS: LH timed endometrial biopsies (LH+6 to LH+10) were collected from women with unexplained infertility and normal fertility. pSTAT3, IL-11, IL-11Ralpha and LIF production was determined by immunohistochemistry. Staining intensity was determoned by two independent observers blind to the fertility status of the patient from whom the biopsy was taken. Staining intensity and heterogeneity in each of the endometrial compartments (epithelium; stroma, including decidualized stromal cells; and vasculature) was assessed. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze IL-11, pSTAT3, IL-11Ralpha and LIF immunostaining intensities in the samples. RESULTS: IL-11, IL-11Ralpha and LIF were present predominantly in glandular epithelium, whilst luminal epithelium showed patchy staining. pSTAT3 was present in both glandular epithelium and stroma. IL-11 and pSTAT3 immunostaining was significantly lower in glandular epithelium in infertile women compared to controls (P < 0.05) whilst IL-11Ralpha and LIF staining did not differ. CONCLUSION: This is the first demonstration of reduced endometrial pSTAT3 and IL-11 in some women with unexplained infertility. This suggests IL-11 and pSTAT3 may be involved in the secretory transformation of glandular epithelium during receptivity. Reduced IL-11 production and STAT3 phosphorylation may contribute to unexplained infertility in some women.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

How Do Uterine Natural Killer and Innate Lymphoid Cells Contribute to Successful Pregnancy?

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the most abundant immune cells in the uterine mucosa both before and during pregnancy. Circumstantial evidence suggests they play important roles in regulating placental development but exactly how they contribute to the successful outcome of pregnancy is still unclear. Uterine ILCs (uILCs) include subsets of tissue-resident natural killer (NK) cells and ILCs, and until recently the phenotype and functions of uILCs were poorly defined. Determining the specific roles of each subset is intrinsically challenging because of the rapidly changing nature of the tissue both during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and high dimensional flow and mass cytometry approaches have recently been used to analyse uILC populations in the uterus in both humans and mice. This detailed characterisation has significantly changed our understanding of the heterogeneity within the uILC compartment. It will also enable key clinical questions to be addressed including whether specific uILC subsets are altered in infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy disorders such as foetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. Here, we summarise recent advances in our understanding of the phenotypic and functional diversity of uILCs in non-pregnant endometrium and first trimester decidua, and review how these cells may contribute to successful placental development