Superconductivity of barium-doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O y

Sintered ceramic samples of Bi₂Sr_2?x Ba _x CaCu₂O_y with nominal barium fraction 0≤x≤0.3 have been prepared by the solid-state reaction method. WDS studies verified that barium enters the superconducting phase. For slowly cooled samples, the midpointT _c of the superconducting transition is significantly increased by barium doping, whereas for quenched samplesT _c is little affected. The increase ofT _c with increasing barium fraction is consistent with a decrease in the hole concentration in the superconducting layers.     

Transborder direct-to-home satellite service

Transborder receipt of direct-to-home satellite transmissions is a timely topic which has international implications. This article addresses some of these international implications, but for the most part, it focuses on transborder receipt of satellite services in the United States and the legal ramifications thereof under American law. Some legal terms and the regulatory nature of the aforementioned satellite service will first be discussed. Then, the role of the Federal Communications Commission in terms of its rulings and authority in transborder direct-to-home satellite service will be presented. Afterwards, the policy implications of foreign direct-to-home satellite service to the United States will be examined.     

Federal Reserve Communication System Planning

The Federal Reserve System has planned, developed, and implemented a state-of-the-art X.25 packet-switching network to accommodate its internal data communications reqirements through the 1980's in a cost-effective manner. The new network replaces two separate communications facilities installed during the 1970's-one which handled short transaction-oriented messages, and one which handled large bulk data files. Detailed implementation planning and extensive testing for the new network were driven by the large dollar volume and financial sensitivity of the traffic being transferred.     

Marker selection for the transmission/disequilibrium test, in recently admixed populations

Various analytical, iterative and rebinning algorithms have been proposed for 3D reconstruction in positron emission tomography. This paper examines execution times of five analytical and rebinning algorithms. Meaningful comparisons are obtained by using similar software modules in all implementations. Reconstruction times are shown to differ by vast amounts: the Favor algorithm of Defrise et al is more than twice as fast as the widely used reprojection algorithm of Kinahan and Rogers; the Fourier rebinning algorithm (Fore) recently developed by Defrise is more than 15 times faster than the reprojection algorithm.     

Isolation and stability of histidine-tagged proteins produced in plants via potyvirus gene vectors

A system for the expression and purification of histidine-tagged proteins from plants has been developed using a tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV)-derived gene vectors. The vectors offered a convenient polylinker and a choice of histidine tagging at the recombinant proteins' N or C termini. These vectors were utilized for expression of proteins encoded by beet yellows closterovirus (BYV). Approximately 4 micrograms/g of 20-kDa BYV protein was readily isolated from plants systemically infected by hybrid TEV. In contrast, only minute quantities of 22-kDa BYV capsid protein (CP) histidine-tagged at its N or C terminus could be purified. Rapid degradation of the recombinant CP has been implicated in its failure to accumulate in infected plants. Fusion with TEV HC-Pro stabilized the histidine-tagged BYV CP and facilitated purification of the fusion product from infected plants. This same fusion approach was successfully used with the 24-kDa minor BYV CP. The recombinant proteins were recognized by histidine-tag-specific monoclonal antibody in immunoblot analysis. These results demonstrate the utility of a designed series of TEV vectors for expression, detection, and purification of the recombinant proteins and suggest that intrinsic protein stability is a major factor in a recovery of recombinant proteins from plants.     

Asymmetrical interaction of GroEL and GroES in the ATPase cycle of assisted protein folding

The chaperonins GroEL and GroES of Escherichia coli facilitate protein folding in an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent reaction cycle. The kinetic parameters for the formation and dissociation of GroEL-GroES complexes were analyzed by surface plasmon resonance. Association of GroES and subsequent ATP hydrolysis in the interacting GroEL toroid resulted in the formation of a stable GroEL:ADP:GroES complex. The complex dissociated as a result of ATP hydrolysis in the opposite GroEL toroid, without formation of a symmetrical GroEL:(GroES)2 intermediate. Dissociation was accelerated by the addition of unfolded polypeptide. Thus, the functional chaperonin unit is an asymmetrical GroEL:GroES complex, and substrate protein plays an active role in modulating the chaperonin reaction cycle.     

Heat transfer between gas fluidized beds of solid particles and the surfaces of immersed heat exchanger elements,part I

After some general remarks about fluidization, and a section on the hydrodynamic behaviour of fluidized beds, the mechanisms of heat transfer between the surfaces of heat exchanger elements and gas—solid fluidized beds are discussed in detail. A theoretical model, presented some years ago, is slightly modified and further developed to improve its applicability within a wide range of variables. The model makes use of some of the basic concepts of molecular kinetic theory as applied to solid particles in a fluidized bed. A complete derivation as well as all the parameters required to apply the model equations are given.     

A framework for application systems engineering

Interactive Application Systems (IAS) attend to the information needs of application experts, i.e. problem-solving end-users within particular application environments. As such, IAS must be customized functionally and behaviourally toward both user and environment. Such customizing must be feasible in an economical fashion. The study claims that this objective is met by appropriate IAS development tools and by a basic IAS architecture that consists of the following main building blocks: a general-purpose dialogue processor that is controlled by a particular user interface specification, called information net; a library of software modules and packages for providing system functions on the basis of reusable software; and a data management system that may, just like the library elements, be procured from outside, perhaps even including an already existing information base. The paper discusses the approach in detail with particular emphasis on information nets and on the integration of reusable software into a total system. The paper argues that the approach is flexible enough to accommodate (rapid) prototyping, i.e. procuring of first versions of an IAS, that may be used during requirements analysis to refine the user wishes, or operationally during an interim period until the final system becomes available.     

A simple technique for the long-term non-polarised and polarised culture of human fallopian tube epithelial cells

Fallopian tubes were obtained from 25 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Pieces of fallopian tube mucosa were placed in culture flasks containing minimum essential medium in Earle's salts supplemented with fetal bovine serum. First passage was carried out after 7-10 days and subcultures in 4-5 days. For polarised cell culture, epithelial cells were seeded onto an extracellular matrix system. New epithelial cells were seen on day 2-3 of the primary culture and epithelial patches on day 7-10. Cells reached confluence in 4-5 days in subcultures. The cells could be subcultured for 7-11 passages with a life span of 42-60 days. Epithelial origins of the cells were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining with anti-cytokeratin antibody. Polarised cells showed a columnar pattern, microvilli on their apical surface and basally located nucleus whereas non-polarised cells were flat. It was concluded that the human fallopian tube epithelial cells can be cultured in vitro to create non-polarised and polarised cell layers by using a simple and reproducible technique and this system can be a potential model to study function of the fallopian tube.