ABSTRACT.

The two-allele NcoI Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of the TNF alpha region yielding bands of 5.5 and 10.5 kb was investigated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (P-JRA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). In all four disease, we found a decreased frequency of the 10.5 kb allele which, however, was significant only in the SLE group. In all conditions except RA, the frequency of the 5.5 kb fragment was increased. In pSS and SLE, the frequency of HLA-B8 was increased in 5.5 kb fragment positive patients compared with corresponding controls and thus, the increase of this band and the decrease of the 10.5 kb band may be secondary to HLA-B8 associations owing to strong positive linkage disequilibrium between HLA-B8 and the 5.5 kb band.

The prevalence of antinuclear factors (ANF) found in sera and synovial fluids (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varies from one study to another, chiefly according to the technique used. The importance of sensitivity has been emphasized by Ritchie who found ANF in 89 % of undiluted RA sera, employing rat liver as nuclear substrate and an antihuman immunoglobulin conjugate detecting the three main classes of immunoglobulins (Ig) (Ritchie, 1967). As 61 % of normal control sera contained low titres of ANF (<16) a titre of 16 was selected as the upper normal limit. Titres above 16 were found in 32 % of the RA sera.

SUMMARY The restriction enzymes MspI and Bg/II identify two different two‐allele restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in the human IL‐6 genes of healthy Danes. Co‐dominant segregation was demonstrated for both marker‐systems and the test for Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium showed no significant deviation from expectations. There is a strong correlation between the two marker systems. The two IL‐6 RFLP's were studied in Danish patients with rheumatoid arthritis, pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The frequencies of the MspI and Bg/II marker phenotypes did not differ between healthy controls and the three disease groups. No extra or missing DNA fragments were observed in the disease groups when compared with controls.

Abstract-A novel model predictive (MPC) approach for individual pitch control of wind turbines is proposed in this paper. A repetitive wind disturbance model is incorporated into the MPC prediction. As a consequence, individual pitch feedforward control action is generated by the controller, taking "future" wind disturbance into account. Information about the estimated wind spatial distribution one blade experience can be used in the prediction model to better control the next passing blade. A simulation comparison between the proposed controller and an industry-standard PID controller shows better mitigation of drive-train, blade and tower loads.