Kudzu [Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. Variety lobata]: A new source of carbohydrate for bioethanol production

We determined the amount of standing biomass of kudzu (Pueraria montana var lobata) in naturally infested fields in Maryland and Alabama, USA. At each site, we evaluated the carbohydrate content of roots, stems, and leaves. For a third site from Georgia, we evaluated the carbohydrate content of kudzu roots of varying diameters. Belowground biomass in Alabama exceeded 13 t ha^?1, and contained an average of 37% fermentable carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose, and starch). Roots from Georgia of all size classes contained over 60% fermentable carbohydrates. Biomass and carbohydrate levels in roots from Maryland were low compared to plants growing in Alabama and Georgia, producing 5 t ha^?1 of roots with 20% non-structural carbohydrate. Stems from Alabama and Maryland contained 1–3% carbohydrates. Based on the yield and carbohydrate content, we estimate wild kudzu stands in Alabama and Georgia could produce 5–10 t ha^?1 of carbohydrate, which would rival carbohydrate production from maize and sugar cane fields. If economical harvesting and processing techniques could be developed, the kudzu infesting North America has the potential to supplement existing bioethanol feedstocks, which could be of significance to the rural economy of the southeastern USA.     

Planar integration of a resonant-tunneling diode with pHEMT using anovel proton implantation technique

A novel technique of integrating resonant-tunneling diodes (RTDs) with pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistors (pHEMTs) is demonstrated. A proton was implanted through the pHEMT layers to convert the RTD structure underneath to a high-resistivity buffer without degrading the performance of the pHEMT. The cutoff frequency is 16 GHz for a 1.5-μm-gate-length pHEMT on such an implanted buffer. Substituting the conventional deep mesa etch with ion implantation maintains a highly planar surface. Such a monolithically integrated RTD/pHEMT oscillator is described     

Human and organizational error as a basis for processreengineering: with applications to systems integration planning andmarketing

This paper presents the results of research on how assessment of the incidence and causes of human and organizational error in implementing processes can be utilized as a partial basis for the reengineering of organizational structures and processes. A systems integration environment was used as a site for empirical observation. A model was developed for the life cycle process of preparing a systems integration proposal involving integration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software and hardware, services, and value-added products. This model was used as a basis for analysis of errors committed during the life cycle process. From this analysis follows development of strategies for workflow and process reengineering. The identified approach can form part of a coordinated effort to reengineer vital processes within an organization with minimization of specific errors as a primary goal in efforts that involve the planning and engineering of systems     

An algebraic treatment of quantum vibrations using REDUCE

Many eigenvalue problems that arise in mathematical physics and chemistry can be solved using the algebra of non-commuting operators. REDUCE can readily be used to perform the many time consuming algebraic manipulations necessary to find the solutions to these problems. Applications of REDUCE are given to the quantum mechanical one and two dimensional nearly harmonic oscillator using an algebraic approach.     

Manipulating the aggregation and oxidation of human SPARC in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli

INTRODUCTION: The liveborn children were classified by birth weight, maternal age, maternal education level and type of delivery in the light of the importance of discovering the conditions of birth for the planning of mother-child actions. METHODOLOGY: The population studied consisted of 2,315 liveborn children from the municipality of Passos (MG), 2,311 of whom were born in hospitals and 4 at home, although these latter were immediately taken to hospital. The data refer to the set of children born alive in the municipality from April 12, 1995 to April 30, 1996. Data collection was facilitated by the implantation of the Subsystem of Information about Liveborn Children (SINASC) during that period. The instrument used for data collection was the Declaration of Liveborn Children, an official document of SINASC. The data were fed into a computer and the variables of interest for the present study were surveyed. RESULTS: The data showed that: the incidence of low birth weight was 10%, 31.1% of the mothers were between 20 and 24 years old and 19.5% were younger than 20. With respect to educational level, 68.6% of the mothers had received incomplete primary schooling and 5.7% had higher education. The proportion of cesarean sections was 59.1% and the proportion of spontaneous delivery 40.9%.     

Purification of biologically active SPARC expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is a secreted, Ca+2-binding glycoprotein that modulates interactions between cells and their immediate extracellular matrix. Traditional sources of SPARC have been mammalian bone, platelets, a basement membrane tumor, and cultured cells; most if not all preparations, however, contain platelet-derived growth factor and one or more serum proteins that bind specifically to purified SPARC. To avoid these contaminants, as well as the toxic lipid moiety associated with endotoxin, we expressed recombinant wild-type and a mutated murine SPARC in two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: one strain was transfected with an expression vector encoding a proprietory signal peptide that directed the secretion of the recombinant protein. Recombinant SPARC was also purified from cell lysates of a different, nonreverting strain of S. cerevisiae that was optimized for large-scale fermentation runs. A mutant murine SPARC lacking the single glycosylation site was also expressed following substitution of Asn98 with Asp98 in the wild-type sequence. Purification of SPARC was achieved by copper-affinity and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. Both the wild-type and the glycosylation-defective recombinant proteins exhibited high levels of activity in two bioassays with endothelial cells: inhibition of cell spreading/disruption of actin microfilaments and competition for the binding of nonrecombinant 125I-labeled SPARC to the cell surface. The availability of biologically active, recombinant SPARC will facilitate investigation of the structural and functional properties of this protein, which is expressed at high levels in healing wounds, atherosclerotic plaque, and several cancers and diseases of connective tissue.     

Teaching image-processing programming in Java

Image processing (IP) can be taught very effectively by complementing the basic lectures with computer laboratories where the participants can actively manipulate and process images. This offering can be made even more attractive by allowing the students to develop their own IP code within a reasonable time frame. A designed system to be as "student friendly" as possible is presented. The software is built around ImageJ, a freely available, full-featured, and user-friendly program for image analysis. The students can walk away from the course with an IP system that is operational. Using the ImageAccess interface layer, they can easily program both ImageJ plug-ins and Internet applets. The system that we have described may also appeal to practitioners as it offers simple, full-proof way of developing professional level IP software.     

Low RI liquid crystals for integrated optics

By combining fluorinated isotropic additives with a mixture of saturated hydrocarbon-based liquid crystalline compounds, nematic materials of very low refractive index can be obtained. Mixtures are available with an ordinary refractive index below that of fused silica at room temperature, allowing the construction of active overlayer devices on common waveguide substrates.