Modelling and condition-based control of a flexible and hybrid disassembly system with manual and autonomous workstations using reinforcement learning

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing - Remanufacturing includes disassembly and reassembly of used products to save natural resources and reduce emissions. While assembly is widely understood in...     

Comparison of Solid-Liquid and Liquid-Liquid Mass Transfer

Mass transfer from solutions of m-acetotoluide, phenacetin and salicylamide into a stationary solvent, water, was studied. A sharp concentration jump was found at the leading solute front for all three liquid-liquid systmes. A comparison was made between the mass transferred in solid-liquid and liquid-liquid systems. The dissolution of m-acetotoluide, phenacetin and salicylamide was compared with mass transfer of solute from solutions with concentrations C_i, 2C_i and C_s into the pure solvent. In all cases, the amount dissolved from the solid was approximated by the C_i or the 2C_i-solvent system with the amount transferred in the C_s-solvent system approximately 100 fold greater than was dissolved from the solid. It was concluded that a concentration much less than saturation exists at the solid-liquid interface and that dissolution of the three compounds studied is controlled by the rate of solvent interaction at the solid surface.     

PLA2 activity regulates Ca2+ storage-dependent cellular proliferation

The objective of this study is to determine the role of arachidonic acid (AA) in cell proliferation by inhibiting AA synthetic enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and to determine its involvement in the role of the second messenger intracellular calcium (Ca2+). Methods used to determine the effects on proliferation of cell cultures of primary meningioma and astrocytoma U373-MG included treatment with micromolar concentrations of PLA2 inhibitors 4-bromophenacylbromide and quinacrine. Effects of these drugs on proliferation were further investigated by the application of concentrations that inhibit growth by 50% while antagonizing these agents with AA replacement. Free cytosolic Ca2+ was measured with the use of fluorescent dye Fura-2 during PLA2 agonist/antagonist studies. These Ca2+ measurements were performed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ to identify the contribution of intracellular Ca2+ sources. PLA2 inhibition resulted in decreased growth of cultured astrocytoma and meningioma cells in a dose-dependent manner in the micromolar range. This inhibitory effect was antagonized by the addition of AA. PLA2 inhibition caused an elevation of basal-cytosolic-free [Ca2+] while depleting internal Ca2+ stores. These Ca2+ changes were also antagonized by the addition of AA. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that AA, a PLA2 enzyme product, is involved in regulating the growth rate of these cell types. The PLA2 pathway also regulates the maintenance of the internal Ca2+ stores. Ca2+ is known to be a growth-related intracellular second messenger. These results suggest that the growth regulatory functions of AA are mediated by Ca2+-dependent mechanisms.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in human burn wounds

A water-soluble synthetic peptide with only nine amino acid residues, comprising the 131-139 sequence region of the cytotoxic protein alpha-sarcin (secreted by the mold Aspergillus giganteus), interacts with large unilamellar vesicles composed of acid phospholipids. It promotes lipid mixing between bilayers and leakage of vesicle aqueous contents, and it also abolishes the phospholipid phase transition. Other larger peptides containing such an amino acid sequence also produce these effects. These peptides acquire alpha-helical conformation in the presence of trifluoroethanol, but display beta-strand conformation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The interaction of these peptides with the lipid vesicles also results in beta-structure. The obtained data are discussed in terms of the involvement of the 131-139 stretch of alpha-sarcin in its interaction with lipid membranes.     

Transmission scanning electron microscopical investigation of a gas microjet

Expansion flows from different kinds of nozzles (pipe, orifice) into the specimen chamber of a scanning electron microscope (JSM 50A, JEOL, Tokyo) were imaged by means of a transmitted electron detection device using its dark field mode of operation. The experimental videosignal distribution has been numerically transformed in order to get particle number density distributions. Absolute quantification using a thin known foil target yields reasonable particle number densities. The experimental investigation of a nonstationary gaseous microjet ejected from a circular orifice (20 μm in diameter) in the wall of a closed vessel (6 cm³ volume) provides for another estimation of the particle number density at an arbitrarily selected point on the microjet axis.