Linking microcomputers and dedicated word processing systems for increased productivity

With the decline in cost of hardware, more and more professionals are acquiring personal computers at their desk. Most common uses of these office computers are word processing and spreadsheet (e.g. LOTUS 123, MULTIMATE, FRAMEWORK, etc.¹) applications. Professionals typically generate text directly on the personal computer (in lieu of hand written copy) and use spreadsheet programs to tabulate and analyze collected field data. A problem in some offices is integrating text and data prepared on the personal computer with existing dedicated word processing systems which have existed in many office environments for some time. One solution is to have the text and tabulated data retyped into the word processing system, however, this approach is not an effective use of resources.

The Industrial Hygiene Section, Industrywide Studies Branch (DSHEFS), NIOSH has developed procedures for electronically linking personal microcomputers with an office-wide word processing system. Using a commercially available hardware “board” (which may be inserted into an open slot in an IBM-PC or compatible), the rough copy report and tabulated spreadsheet data can be electronically linked and “uploaded” from a microcomputer to the word processing system. At NIOSH, a WANG word processing system is the office-wide system for preparing and publishing final reports. This system is not readily compatible with IBM-PC (or similar) microcomputers; however, using MULTIMATE (a commercially available word processing program) and the hardware board, documents can be readily transferred to the WANG virtually unchanged from the copy generated on the microcomputer. Importantly, spreadsheet data can be similarly transferred and linked to a document on the WANG wordprocessing system.

This paper describes the sequence of steps, along with necessary hardware and software, to achieve the integration of written documents and numerical data (analyzed by LOTUS 123) from a microcomputer to a office-wide WANG word processing system.     

Fracture properties of metals and alloys from molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations of fracture have been performed on the metals Al and Nb, and the intermetallic alloys RuAl, Nb₃Al and NiAl. The forces and energies were modelled with embedded atom method potentials. The increasing external stress was applied using displacements of the outer boundaries of the array, calculated by anisotropic elasticity theory, until the pre-existing cracks propagated or dislocation nucleation occurred. The resulting critical stress intensity factor was calculated at various orientations and temperatures, and the results compared with theory. Observations of slip systems are reported, as well as values for surface energies and “unstable stacking” energies.     

Identification of the sites of N-linked glycosylation on the human calcium receptor and assessment of their role in cell surface expression and signal transduction

The human calcium receptor (hCaR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor containing 11 potential N-linked glycosylation sites in the large extracellular domain. The number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites actually modified, and the effect on cell surface expression and signal transduction of blocking glycosylation at these sites, was examined by site-directed mutagenesis. Asparagine residues of the consensus sequences (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) for N-linked glycosylation were mutated to glutamine individually and in various combinations to disrupt the potential N-linked glycosylation sites in the context of the full-length receptor. The cDNA constructs were transiently transfected into HEK-293 cells lacking endogeneous hCaR, and expressed receptors were analyzed by mobility differences on immunoblots, glycosidase digestion, intact cell enzyme-linked immunoassay, and extracellular calcium-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis assay. Immunoblot analyses and glycosidase digestion studies of the wild type versus mutant receptors demonstrate that, of the 11 potential sites for N-linked glycosylation, eight sites (Asn-90, -130, -261, -287, -446, -468, -488, and -541) are glycosylated; the three remaining sites (Asn-386, -400, and -594) may not be efficiently glycosylated in the native receptor. Sequential mutagenesis of multiple N-linked glycosylation sites and analyses by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, biotinylation of cell surface proteins, and intact cell enzyme-linked immunoassay indicated that disruption of as few as three glycosylation sites impairs proper processing and expression of the receptor at the cell surface. Disruption of five glycosylation sites reduced cell surface expression by 50-90% depending on which five sites were disrupted. Phosphoinositide hydrolysis assay results for various glycosylation-defective mutant receptors in general correlated well with the level of cell surface expression. Our results demonstrate that among 11 potential N-linked glycosylation sites on the hCaR, eight sites are actually utilized; glycosylation of at least three sites is critical for cell surface expression of the receptor, but glycosylation does not appear to be critical for signal transduction.     

Endogenous centers: A simple departure from the NUE model

The model departs from the new urban economics (NUE) by allowing a single economic agent (a G-agent, e.g., a corporate headquarters) to contact every location with equal frequency: the G-agent is allowed to travel in every direction. A NUE-like assumption requires all other agents to contact the G-agent, in which case, the G-agent must locate at the center; i.e., the CBD is necessarily endogenous. The evolution of subcenters begins with growth in demand which raises the level of bid rents by enough to outbid agriculture. After one agent moves to the suburbs, interdependency among agents insures that the incipient suburban center becomes more attractive to other agents.     

ADSORPTION OF ASPHALT FUNCTIONALITIES AND OXIDIZED ASPHALTS ON AGGREGATE SURFACES

ABSTRACT

The adsorption of asphalt functionalities and asphalt oxidized to different degrees on real and model aggregates has been investigated. The functionalities used were: nitrogen-base, phenolic, carboxylic acid, ester, ketone, sulfoxide, and polynuclear aromatic. Adsorption isotherms of these functionalities on porous silica showed different affinity rankings dependent upon concentration. The competitive affinity ranking of the asphalt functionalities on dried silica was obtained as phenylsulfoxide > qulnoline > phenol > benzoic acid > benzophenone > benzylbenzoate > pyrene. The sensitivity to moist silica surface of the four most strongly adsorbed compounds was: qulnoline > benzoic acid > phenol > phenylsulfoxide.

Asphalts oxidized to different degrees were adsorbed on different aggregates. On silica and alumina, the oxidized asphalts with viscosities of 32,000 and 126,000 poise were adsorbed less than AC-20. On limestone and sandstone, the adsorption of AC-20 and oxidized asphalts was concentration dependent; asphaltene adsorption followed the same trends. These adsorptions followed the Langrauir isotherm with monolayer coverage decreasing with increased oxidation.

functionalities such as ketones produced during oxidation are not as strong adsorbers as other functionalities; thus, changes in chemical composition during oxidation may result in substantial changes in asphalt adsorptive behavior. As oxidation increased in the different asphalts, the monolayer coverages of the asphalts decreased. Aggregate sensitivity to oxidation ranked in the order of silica > alumina > sandstone > limestone. Thus, the adsorptive behavior of an asphalt is a function of both the degree of oxidation and the aggregate onto which it is adsorbing.     

CMOS Camera With In-Pixel Temporal Change Detection and ADC

An array of 90times90 active pixel sensors (APS) with pixel-level embedded differencing and comparison is presented. The nMOS-only 6T 2C 25 mum times 25 mum pixel provides both analog readout of pixel intensity and a digital flag indicating temporal change at variable thresholds. Computation is performed through a pixel-level capacitively coupled comparator which also functions as analog-to-digital converter. The chip, fabricated in a 0.5 mum 3M2P CMOS, process consumes 4.2 mW of power while operating at 30 fps. Change sensitivity is 2.1% at an illumination of 1.7 W/cm². Gating of raster-scanned pixel output by change detection typically produces a 20-fold compression in the data stream, depending on image conditions and reconstruction quality set by the change detection threshold.     

Calculation of horizontal displacement of conductors under windloading toward buildings and other supporting structures

Wind loadings can be the determining factor in the structural design and location of supporting structures, including the choice of materials, sizes, and configuration. Deflection of structures or supported facilities under wind loading may require increased clearances between conductors or cables, thus affecting the physical design of the structures, as well as requiring increased clearances from buildings and affecting the location of the structures themselves. Both exact methodologies and rules of thumb are presented for calculating horizontal loadings and wind deflections of conductors and cables. Tables give values for common conductors that may be used in determining compliance with the National Electrical Safety Code     

Thromboxane synthase expression in renal transplant patients with rejection

Thromboxane synthase (TS) catalyzes the formation of thromboxane (TxA2) in monocytes/macrophages, platelets, and various tissues. TxA2 is likely to play a role in graft dysfunction due to its vasoconstrictive and platelet aggregatory properties. We studied the expression of TS in 7 normal native kidneys, 29 consecutive renal allograft biopsies (performed for rising serum creatinine, n = 23, and delayed graft function, n = 6), and one transplant nephrectomy specimen with severe acute rejection. TS expression was determined by immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against human TS, Kon-7. Histologic grading of the transplant biopsy specimens was based on the Banff classification. The degree of TS staining was graded in the glomeruli, interstitium, tubules and vessels from 0 to 3+. Of 29 biopsies, 13 had chronic nephropathy (CN), 6 had acute rejection (AR) with chronic nephropathy (AR/CN), 4 had acute rejection (AR), and 6 had acute tubular necrosis (ATN). TS staining of native kidneys showed sporadic interstitial cells. The biopsy and transplant nephrectomy specimens showed significant staining, predominantly in the glomeruli and interstitium. Positively staining cells appeared to be of macrophage/monocyte lineage by morphology. The mean glomerular staining grade was significantly increased in specimens with AR (2.3 +/- 0.9) and the mean interstitial staining was increased in specimens with AR/CN (2.2 +/- 0.9). Follow-up renal function 6 months post-biopsy showed that patients with higher TS staining grades had a faster decline in graft function. In conclusion, TS expression is increased in patients with acute rejection with or without chronic nephropathy and is associated with more rapid deterioration in function.