Class Loading Research Articles

Observations on the Quality of commercially manufactured Ayurvedic Decoction, Maharasnadi Kvatha

Plan: Ayurveda makes use of many Kvatha or hot infusions. In olden days the physician provided a handwritten recipe of the Kvatha in question and patients prepared these medicines at home. However, this tradition ended with the advent of commercial manufacture of Ayurvedic medicines in Kerala since 1902. Considering the growing popularity of Ayurveda, an attempt was made to compare the quality of seven brands of Maharasnadi Kvatha, a formulation that is widely recommended by physicians. Methodology: Seven brands of Maharasnadi Kvatha available in the local market were procured. Their pH, total dissolved solids, sodium benzoate content, HPTLC profiles and microbial load were measured. Additionally, the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols, and sterols was detected qualitatively. Total tannins, alkaloids, phenols and sterols were estimated. Outcome: The colour of the seven brands, their pH, total dissolved solids, sodium benzoate content, HPTLC profiles, microbial load and content of compound classes showed wide variation. HPTLC fingerprinting can serve as a useful technique to assess the quality of Ayurvedic medicines. The number of bands and their area percentages can serve as quality indices. Such methods can be used for improving the quality of Ayurvedic medicines.

Endosomal compartment: Also a dock for MHC class I peptide loading

The endosomal compartment, which contains all the components required for loading peptides onto MHC class II molecules, is classically considered to be dedicated to the loading of MHC class II but not MHC class I molecules. However, a report in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 774-784], together with other recent studies, shows that the endosomal compartment also supports efficient loading of MHC class I molecules. These results bring a new perspective on the crosstalk between the MHC class II and MHC class I antigen-processing pathways, and may inspire new ideas for the design of vaccines against viruses and tumors.

Class III Restoration of Anterior Primary Teeth: In Vitro Retention Comparison of Conventional, Modified and Air-abrasion Treated Preparations.

Background and aims. Anterior esthetic restoration is challenging in pediatric dentistry, due to limited durability and poor retention of the restoration.This study assessed the effect of air abrasion on tensile failure load of composite class III restorations using different preparation techniques.Materials and methods. 100 extracted human anterior primary teeth were divided, based on the preparation methods, into four groups each consisting of 25 subjects : conventional (A), labial surface bevel (B), conventional + air abrasion (C), and labial surface bevel + air abrasion (D). After restoring cavities, tensile failure load of samples was measured in Newton by Universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm per minute. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests using SPSS software.Results. There were statistically significant differences between groups A and C (P = 0.003), groups A and B (P & 0.001), groups A and D (P & 0.001), groups B and C (P = 0.028), groups B and D (P = 0.027), and also groups C and D (P& 0.001). Group D demonstrated the highest mean tensile failure load.Conclusion. Labial surface bevel treated by air abrasion showed significantly more retention of composite restoration.

A Micropolymorphism Altering the Residue Triad 97/114/156 Determines the Relative Levels of Tapasin Independence and Distinct Peptide Profiles for HLA-A(*)24 Allotypes.

While many HLA class I molecules interact directly with the peptide loading complex (PLC) for conventional loading of peptides certain class I molecules are able to present peptides in a way that circumvents the PLC components. We investigated micropolymorphisms at position 156 of HLA-A*24 allotypes and their effects on PLC dependence for assembly and peptide binding specificities. HLA-A*24:06156Trp and HLA-A*24:13156Leu showed high levels of cell surface expression while HLA-A*24:02156Gln was expressed at low levels in tapasin deficient cells. Peptides presented by these allelic variants showed distinct differences in features and repertoire. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated all the HLA-A*24/156 variants to associate at similar levels with tapasin when present. Structurally, HLA-A*24:02 contains the residue triad Met97/His114/Gln156 and a Trp156 or Leu156 polymorphism provides tapasin independence by stabilizing these triad residues, thus generating an energetically stable and a more peptide receptive environment. Micropolymorphisms at position 156 can influence the generic peptide loading pathway for HLA-A*24 by altering their tapasin dependence for peptide selection. The trade-off for this tapasin independence could be the presentation of unusual ligands by these alleles, imposing significant risk following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Increasing Retention and Student Satisfaction Utilizing an Online Peer Mentoring Program: Preliminary Results

BackgroundAnxiety and apprehension have been observed in beginning nursing students as a recurrent pattern, particularly when students are entering upper level foundational nursing courses. This anxiety contributes to increased withdrawals from nursing programs and decreased satisfaction in retained nursing students. Purpose of StudyTo determine the effect of an e-mentoring program that pairs junior and senior level undergraduate nursing students on student satisfaction and student retention. MethodsThis mixed methods design utilizes an online peer mentoring strategy. 20 junior mentees and 20 senior level mentors participated in the study. Students completed surveys after one semester of participation, to evaluate the success of their mentor-mentee relationship, and gauge student satisfaction with the program. All information was utilized to assess retention implications, and implement changes with the e-mentoring program for future nursing students. Results and Conclusions14 mentors and 16 mentees returned surveys. The majority of students felt that they had benefitted from participation after one semester. Students indicated they preferred the online format to in- person meetings. Mentors were able to share studying tips, time-management skills and organizational strategies. Responses to open-ended questions indicated that the success of the mentor-mentee relationship depends on the mentee communicating with the mentor. Implications for PracticeWhile preliminary data suggests that promising results in student satisfaction, retention rates of students will be determined after one year of the mentorship program. An e-mentoring program could be a necessary component to foster relationships between excelling senior nursing students and junior nursing students, and allow for support in class load, coursework, school, and outside stressors. This relationship allows for collaboration of ideas, and provides perspective for the senior mentor in terms of growth and knowledge base.

Evaluating the performance and mapping of three fuel classification systems using Forest Inventory and Analysis surface fuel measurements

Fuel Loading Models (FLMs) and Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCSs) fuelbeds are used throughout wildland fire science and management to simplify fuel inputs into fire behavior and effects models, but they have yet to be thoroughly evaluated with field data. In this study, we used a large dataset of Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) surface fuel estimates (n=13,138) to create a new fuel classification called Fuel Type Groups (FTGs) from FIA forest type groups, and then keyed an FLM, FCCS, and FTG class to each FIA plot based on fuel loadings and stand conditions. We then compared FIA sampled loadings to the keyed class loading values for four surface fuel components (duff, litter, fine woody debris, coarse woody debris) and to mapped FLM, FCCS, and FTG class loading values from spatial fuel products. We found poor performances (R2<0.30) for most fuel component loadings in all three classifications that, in turn, contributed to poor mapping accuracies. The main reason for the poor performances is the high variability of the four fuel component loadings within classification categories and the inherent scale of this variability does not seem to match the FIA measurement scale or LANDFIRE mapping scale.

Water Injection Station Design Based on One-For-Several Rotor VVVF Technique

In the process of oilfield water injection volume of injection allocation often appears with the pump displacement situation does not match; the widespread adoption of stator frequency technology allows the pump displacement and volume of injection allocation phase matching. But the technology in pump class load application speed range is limited, there is still a reflux valve control blind area," turn off undead" problem. One-for-several" rotor frequency Technique in water injection station application solved the control blind area problem, the full realization of the variable frequency close return voltage injection, at the same time, the successful implementation of the slip power efficient feedback. Stable water injection pressure of the system and the electric energy is saved, satisfy the oilfield high efficiency, fine water needs, has a high application value.

Identification of bovine leukocyte antigen class II haplotypes associated with variations in bovine leukemia virus proviral load in Japanese Black cattle

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, which is the most common neoplastic disease of cattle. Bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) is strongly involved in the subclinical progression of BLV infections. Recent studies show that the BoLA-DRB3 gene might play a direct role in controlling the number of BLV-infected peripheral B lymphocytes in vivo in Holstein cattle. However, the specific BoLA class II allele and DRB3-DQA1 haplotypes determining the BLV proviral load in Japanese Black cattle are yet to be identified. In this study, we focused on the association of BLV proviral load and polymorphism of BoLA class II in Japanese Black cattle. We genotyped 186 BLV-infected, clinically normal cattle for BoLA-DRB3 and BoLA-DQA1 using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing method. BoLA-DRB3*0902 and BoLA-DRB3*1101 were associated with a low proviral load (LPVL), and BoLA-DRB3*1601 was associated with a high proviral load (HPVL). Furthermore, BoLA-DQA1*0204 and BoLA-DQA1*10012 were related to LPVL and HPVL, respectively. Furthermore, we confirmed the correlation between the DRB3-DQA1 haplotype and BLV proviral load. Two haplotypes, namely 0902B or C (DRB3*0902-DQA1*0204) and 1101A (DRB3*1101-DQA1*10011), were associated with a low BLV proviral load, whereas one haplotype 1601B (DRB3*1601-DQA1*10012) was associated with a high BLV proviral load. We conclude that resistance is a dominant trait and susceptibility is a recessive trait. Additionally, resistant alleles were common between Japanese Black and Holstein cattle, and susceptible alleles differed. This is the first report to identify an association between the DRB3-DQA1 haplotype and variations in BLV proviral load.

Modeling class loaders in Java PathFinder version 7

The class loading mechanism is one of the essential components of the Java runtime environment. Java class loading is performed on-demand, allows multiple, user extensible class loaders, and can associate a separate type namespace with each class loader. Previous versions of the Java Pathfinder (JPF) model checker only provided a single, hardcoded class loading mechanism. As one of the cornerstones of the upcoming JPF version 7 (JPF v7), we have implemented a standard Java conforming class loader infrastructure. Our implementation does not only support different class loaders and type namespaces, but also allows explicit instantiation of multiple bootstrap class loaders which is essential for model checking of distributed applications - the primary motivation for our work. With the new class loading mechanism, such applications can be mapped to threads using different bootstrap class loaders, thus effectively separating all static fields between application threads. In addition, the JPF v7 class loading is considered to be the basis for future verification of Java security properties.

Sigmoidal particle density distribution in a subplinian scoria fall deposit

A general expression to describe particle density distribution in tephra fall deposits is essential to improve fallout tephra mass determination and numerical modelling of tephra dispersion. To obtain particle density distributions in tephra fall deposits, we performed high-resolution componentry and particle density analyses on samples from the 2006 subplinian eruption of Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. Six componentry classes, including pumice and scoria, have been identified in our sample collection. We determined the class of 300 clasts in each 0.5ϕ fractions from −4.5ϕ to 3.5ϕ and carried out water pycnometry density measurements on selected size fractions. Results indicate that the mean particle density increases with ϕ up to a plateau of ~2.6 g/cm3 for clasts finer than 1.5ϕ. The density of scoria and pumice increases between −3 and 1ϕ, while dense particle density is sub-constant with grainsize. We show that the mean particle density μ of the vesicular fractions is a function of grainsize i (ϕ scale) given by a sigmoidal law: $$ \mu (i)={{{K+\beta }} \left/ {{\left( {1+\alpha {e^{-ri }}} \right)}} \right.} $$ , where K, β, α and r are constants. These sigmoidal distributions can be used to determine accurately the load of each componentry class and should be applicable to many tephra deposits and for modelling purposes.

Abstract 4633: Polyacetal-based immunoconjugates: Next-generation ADCs with high drug loading, alternative payloads, and alternative protein recognition scaffolds

Abstract Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are rapidly establishing themselves as an important class of chemotherapeutic agents, with impressive therapeutic potential both in hematological malignancies and in solid tumors, as evidenced by SGN-035 and T-DM1. Despite these impressive results, limitations in the current technologies remain. Current ADCs are typically limited to the use of full-size mAbs, providing excellent target recognition and pharmacokinetics (PK), but tolerating the conjugation of only 3-4 payload molecules. This limitation in payload capacity necessitates the use of extremely toxic drugs such as the auristatins and maytansinoids to maximize the therapeutic effect while maintaining the drug load at a low stoichiometric ratio. The vast majority of less potent but often more specific agents with proven anti-cancer activity are largely excluded from incorporation in ADCs. Similarly, a diversity of smaller (alternative) protein recognition scaffolds, such as scFvs, Fabs, diabodies, minibodies etc. are not readily utilized for ADCs (because of their smaller size, they are often associated with poor PK, and even lower capacity for direct drug conjugation. We wish to report our results with a novel, biodegradable-polymer based conjugation system, which provides several advantages for next-generation ADCs, including: 1) significant drug loading of diverse classes of anti-cancer agents; 2) excellent physicochemical and PK properties; and 3) flexibility for use with full-sized mAbs as well as mAb alternatives such as Fabs. The basis of this new conjugation system is a hydrophilic, fully biodegradable polyacetal carrier (PHF or poly(1-hydroxymethylethylene hydroxymethylformal)) covalently linked via separate, optimized linkers to a targeting moiety (mAb or alternative) and 10-40 molecules of drug payload. The optimized stability of the linker employed for conjugation of the polymer-drug conjugate to the targeting molecule ensures stability in the circulation, while the enzymatically cleavable linker utilized for drug-polymer conjugation provides a controllable, predictable pattern of intracellular drug release. Employing well characterized mAbs and mAb Fab fragments in combination with diverse cytotoxic agents as well as kinase inhibitors, we have demonstrated that this new ADC conjugation system provides several potential advantages over existing approaches. For example, trastuzumab was efficiently conjugated to a PHF-vinca polymer conjugate, with a ratio of 16-20 small molecules per antibody. Clear evidence of in vivo activity was demonstrated in multiple xenograft models. Pharmacokinetic and tissue disposition studies conducted in these models confirmed extended plasma ADC exposure (T1/2 of 3-4 days) and significant drug intratumoral accumulation, correlating well with the high ADC efficacy observed. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4633. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4633

Using Complex Surveys to Estimate theL1‐Median of a Functional Variable: Application to Electricity Load Curves

Résumé Les courbes de profil moyen sont largement utilisées comme indicateurs du comportement de consommation d’électricité des clients. ÀÉlectricité de France (EDF), les profils de consommation de chaque catégorie de clients sont estimés par des courbes de charge moyennes. Malheureusement, la moyenne est très sensible à la présence des valeurs atypiques. Dans ce travail, nous proposons une alternative à la courbe moyenne: la L1‐médiane, qui est plus robuste. En présence de grandes bases de données de type courbes (les courbes de charge, par exemple), des approches par sondages sont une alternative intéressante pour estimer la courbe médiane en évitant le stockage de courbes. Nous proposons ici plusieurs stratégies d’échantillonnage et plusieurs estimateurs de la courbe médiane. Une comparaison entre les différentes stratégies est réalisée sur une population‐test. Nous développons une stratification basée sur les variables linéarisées qui améliore de façon substantielle l’estimateur par rapport au sondage aléatoire simple sans remise. Nous suggérons également un estimateur qui prend en compte l’information auxiliaire. Plusieurs directions de recherche sont envisagées.

Ubiquitination of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DM by Different Membrane-associated RING-CH (MARCH) Protein Family E3 Ligases Targets Different Endocytic Pathways

HLA-DM plays an essential role in the peptide loading of classical class II molecules and is present both at the cell surface and in late endosomal peptide-loading compartments. Trafficking of DM within antigen-presenting cells is complex and is, in part, controlled by a tyrosine-based targeting signal present in the cytoplasmic tail of DMβ. Here, we show that DM also undergoes post-translational modification through ubiquitination of a single lysine residue present in the cytoplasmic tail of the α chain, DMα. Ubiquitination of DM by MARCH1 and MARCH9 induced loss of DM molecules from the cell surface by a mechanism that cumulatively involved both direct attachment of ubiquitin chains to DMα and a functional tyrosine-based signal on DMβ. In contrast, MARCH8-induced loss of surface DM was entirely dependent upon the tyrosine signal on DMβ. In the absence of this tyrosine residue, levels of DM remained unchanged irrespective of whether DMα was ubiquitinated by MARCH8. The influence of MARCH8 was indirect and may have resulted from modification of components of the endocytic machinery by ubiquitination.

Determining yield and ultimate loads for moment-resisting frame buildings

This paper derives and presents an analytical expression for the ultimate load of a general class of multi-storey, uniform, moment-resisting frame. This expression is compared and validated with non-linear finite element analysis for the design of buildings with a range of different heights according to the Eurocodes. An empirical relationship between first yield and frame failure load is derived. The extent of damage in the building at the onset of failure is correlated to interstorey drift and linked to performance-based design limit states. Additionally, an analytical expression for the extent of damage at failure is proposed. This relationship defines the extent of damage as a function of the number of storeys in the framework.

Safe and atomic run-time code evolution for Java and its application to dynamic AOP

Dynamic updates to running programs improve development productivity and reduce downtime of long-running applications. This feature is however severely limited in current virtual machines for object-oriented languages. In particular, changes to classes often apply only to methods invoked after a class change, but not to active methods on the call stack of threads. Additionally, adding and removing methods as well as fields is often not supported. We present a novel programming model for safe and atomic code updates of Java programs that also updates methods that are currently executed. We introduce safe update regions and pause threads only there before an update. We automatically convert the stack frames to suit the new versions of the methods. Our implementation is based on a production-quality Java virtual machine. Additionally, we present SafeWeave, a dynamic aspect-oriented programming system that exposes the atomic code updates through a high-level programming model. AspectJ advice can be added to and removed from a running application.Changes are atomic and correctness is guaranteed even though weaving happens in parallel to program execution, and the system fully supports the dynamic class loading of Java. We show that the enhanced evolution features do not incur any performance penalty before and after version changes.

TLR Agonists Downregulate H2-O in CD8α− Dendritic Cells

Peptide loading of MHC class II (MHCII) molecules is catalyzed by the nonclassical MHCII-related molecule H2-M. H2-O, another MHCII-like molecule, associates with H2-M and modulates H2-M function. The MHCII presentation pathway is tightly regulated in dendritic cells (DCs), yet how the key modulators of MHCII presentation, H2-M and H2-O, are affected in different DC subsets in response to maturation is unknown. In this study, we show that H2-O is markedly downregulated in vivo in mouse CD8α(-) DCs in response to a broad array of TLR agonists. In contrast, CD8α(+) DCs only modestly downregulated H2-O in response to TLR agonists. H2-M levels were slightly downmodulated in both CD8α(-) and CD8α(+) DCs. As a consequence, H2-M/H2-O ratios significantly increased for CD8α(-) but not for CD8α(+) DCs. The TLR-mediated downregulation was DC specific, as B cells did not show significant H2-O and H2-M downregulation. TLR4 signaling was required to mediate DC H2-O downregulation in response to LPS. Finally, our studies showed that the mechanism of H2-O downregulation was likely due to direct protein degradation of H2-O as well as downregulation of H2-O mRNA levels. The differential H2-O and H2-M modulation after DC maturation supports the proposed roles of CD8α(-) DCs in initiating CD4-restricted immune responses by optimal MHCII presentation and of CD8α(+) DCs in promoting immune tolerance via presentation of low levels of MHCII-peptide.

Epstein-Barr Viral BNLF2a Protein Hijacks the Tail-anchored Protein Insertion Machinery to Block Antigen Processing by the Transport Complex TAP

Virus-infected cells are eliminated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which recognize viral epitopes displayed on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules at the cell surface. Herpesviruses have evolved sophisticated strategies to escape this immune surveillance. During the lytic phase of EBV infection, the viral factor BNLF2a interferes with antigen processing by preventing peptide loading of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Here we reveal details of the inhibition mechanism of this EBV protein. We demonstrate that BNLF2a acts as a tail-anchored protein, exploiting the mammalian Asna-1/WRB (Get3/Get1) machinery for posttranslational insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, where it subsequently blocks antigen translocation by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). BNLF2a binds directly to the core TAP complex arresting the ATP-binding cassette transporter in a transport-incompetent conformation. The inhibition mechanism of EBV BNLF2a is distinct and mutually exclusive of other viral TAP inhibitors.

Using harmonic class loading for damage identification of plates by wavelet transformation approach

In this paper, the harmonic displacement response of a damaged square plate with all-over partthrough damage parallel to one edge is utilized as the input signal function in wavelet analysis. The method requires the properties of the damaged plate, i.e., no information about the original undamaged structure is required. The location of damage is identified by sudden changes in the spatial variation of transformed response. The incurred damage causes a change in the stiffness or mass of the plate. This causes a localized singularity which can be identified by a wavelet analysis of the displacement response. In this study via numerical examples shown by using harmonic response is more versatile and effective compared with the static deflection response, specially in the presence of noise. In the light of the obtained results, suggestions for future work are presented and discussed.

Customer Classification and Load Profiling Method for Distribution Systems

In Finland, customer class load profiles are used extensively in distribution network calculation. State estimation systems, for example, use the load profiles to estimate the state of the network. Load profiles are also needed to predict future loads in distribution network planning. In general, customer class load profiles are obtained through sampling in load research projects. Currently, in Finland, customer classification is based on the uncertain customer information found in the customer information system. Customer information, such as customer type, heating solution, and tariff, is used to connect the customers with corresponding customer class load profiles. Now that the automatic meter-reading systems are becoming more common, customer classification and load profiling could be done according to actual consumption data. This paper proposes the use of the ISODATA algorithm for customer classification. The proposed customer classification and load profiling method also includes temperature dependency correction and outlier filtering. The method is demonstrated in this paper by studying a set of 660 hourly metered customers.

Perfect class hashing and numbering for object‐oriented implementation

AbstractLate binding and subtyping create run‐time overhead for object‐oriented languages, especially in the context of both multiple inheritance and dynamic loading, for instance for JAVA interfaces. In a previous article, we proposed a novel approach based on perfect hashing and truly constant‐time hashtables for implementing subtype testing and method invocation in a dynamic loading setting. In this first study, we based our efficiency assessment on Driesen's abstract computational model for the time aspect, and on large‐scale benchmarks for the space aspect. The conclusions were that the technique was promising but required further research in order to assess its scalability. This article presents some new results on perfect class hashing that enhance its interest. We propose and test both new hashing functions and an inverse problem that amounts to selecting the best class identifiers in order to minimize the overall hashtable size. This optimizing approach is proven to be optimal for single‐inheritance hierarchies. Experiments within an extended testbed with random class loading and under cautious assumptions about what should be a sensible class‐loading order show that perfect class hashing scales up gracefully, especially on JAVA‐like multiple‐subtyping hierarchies. Furthermore, perfect class hashing is implemented in the PRM compiler testbed, and compared here with the coloring technique, which amounts to maintaining the single‐inheritance implementation in multiple inheritance. The overall conclusion is that the approach is efficient from both time and space standpoints with the bit‐wise and hashing function. In contrast, the poor time efficiency of modulus hashing function on most processors is confirmed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.