Quantitative Assessment of a Peer-to-peer Cooperative Infrastructure Using Stochastic Well-Formed Nets

Traditional support tools for software engineers, normally based on a client-server architecture, are unsuitable to deal with the new issues emerging from the current (and future) cooperative work scenarios (where connectivity is intrinsically transient, the number of interacting partners dynamically changes, etc.). This paper presents a quantitative assessment of a fully decentralized, peer-to-peer, cooperative infrastructure. Stochastic Well-Formed Nets (SWNs) modelling the new peer-to-peer architecture, and a traditional (client-server) one, are developed and analysed: we used SWNs for their ability to directly exploit the symmetries intrinsically present in the modelled systems, thus greatly reducing the complexity of the analysis. The main goal is to compare the impact of the two alternative protocols on the collaborative work. Together with the performance figures of interest, methodological issues concerning the choice of the most appropriate model abstraction level, the adoption of a compositional modelling approach, and the management of the model complexity are also discussed.     

Biosensors based on membrane-bound enzymes immobilized in a 5-(octyldithio)-2-nitrobenzoic acid layer on gold electrodes

Gold electrodes were modified through chemisorption of 5-(octyldithio)-2-nitrobenzoic acid (ODTNB). ODTNB includes a long chain in a short-length thio acid, providing a heterogeneous-like alkanethiol layer after adsorption on gold electrodes. Membrane-bound enzymes, in particular D-fructose dehydrogenase (FDH), D-gluconate dehydrogenase (GADH), and L-lactic dehydrogenase (cytochrome b2) (Cyb2), were immobilized onto ODTNB-modified gold electrodes simply by adsorption. The short-length thio acid may provide electrostatic interactions with enzyme surface charges, while the alkanethiolate enables hydrophobic interaction with the largely lipophilic, membrane-bound enzymes. The immobilization of FDH, GADH, and Cyb2 onto ODTNB-modified gold surfaces has been studied with the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Spectrophotometric and electrochemical assays indicate that the immobilized enzyme retains its enzymatic activity after immobilization onto the ODTNB-modified gold surface. The amount of immobilized (and active) enzyme was estimated from QCM to be of the order of 2.5 x 10(-12)-5.3 x 10(-12) mol x cm(-2). A fructose biosensor was developed, making use of a gold surface modified with ODTNB and fructose dehydrogenase, employing hydroxymethylferrocene as a mediator in solution. Calibration curves exhibited a linear relation between the biosensor response and the substrate concentration up to 0.7 mM. Statistical analysis gave an excellent linear correlation (r = 0.9993) and a sensitivity of 6.1 mM(-1) fructose. The biosensor shows a significant stable catalytic current for at least 25 days.     

Peer reviewed: genetic engineering: the frontier of bioremediation

New molecular tools and an improved understanding of biodegradative processes are slowly increasing prospects for successful technology deployment.     

Dithiobissuccinimidyl propionate as an anchor for assembling peroxidases at electrodes surfaces and its application in a H2O2 biosensor

Exposure of gold surfaces to solutions of dithiobis N-succinimidyl propionate (DTSP) gives rise to the modification of the surface with N-succinimidyl-3-thiopropionate (NSTP) which can, in turn, react with amino groups allowing for the covalent immobilization of enzymes such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The coverage of NSTP has been estimated to be of the order of 1.3 x 10(-10) from the charge consumed during its reductive desorption. The binding reaction of HRP with NSTP modified gold surfaces has been studied with the quartz crystal microbalance, and the results suggest that the immobilization process involves two steps in which the first (faster) appears to correspond to the rapid incorporation of the enzyme whereas the second is likely due to the slow incorporation of additional enzyme and/or reorganization of the immobilized layer. Spectrophotometric and electrochemical assays indicate that the immobilized HRP retains its enzymatic activity after immobilization onto the DTSP modified gold surface. The amount of immobilized (and active) HRP was estimated from QCM and spectrophotometric measurements to be of the order of 1.5 x 10(-11) mol/cm2. A peroxide biosensor was developed making use of a gold surface modified with DTSP and HRP employing Os and Ru complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline 5,6-dione (phen-dione) of the type [M(phendione)x(L)3-x]+2 (where L = 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine, x = 1-3) as mediators with the quinone moieties being the active component. The efficiency of the mediators increased with increasing number of phendione ligands.     

Anaerobic co-digestion of sludge with other organic wastes and phosphorus reclamation in wastewater treatment plants for biological nutrients removal.

This paper deals with the performances obtained in full scale anaerobic digesters co-digesting waste activated sludge from biological nutrients removal wastewater treatment plants, together with different types of organic wastes (solid and liquid). Results showed that the biogas production can be increased from 4000 to some 18,000 m3 per month when treating some 3-5 tons per day of organic municipal solid waste together with waste activated sludge. On the other hand, the specific biogas production was improved, passing from 0.3 to 0.5 m3 per kgVS fed the reactor, when treating liquid effluents from cheese factories. The addition of the co-substrates gave minimal increases in the organic loading rate while the hydraulic retention time remained constant. Further, the potentiality of the struvite crystallisation process for treating anaerobic supernatant rich in nitrogen and phosphorus was studied: 80% removal of phosphorus was observed in all the tested conditions. In conclusion, a possible layout is proposed for designing or upgrading wastewater treatment plants for biological nutrients removal process.     

Septo-optic dysplasia: report of 6 patients studied with MR and discussion on its pathogenesis

OBJECTIVE: Septo-optic dysplasia, which consists of the association of the hypoplasia of the optic nerves and the agenesis of the septum pellucidum, is frequently associated with deficiency of hypothalamic releasing factors. In Magnetic Resonance (MR) of these patients, anomalies in the form and size of the pituitary stalk, adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis are found. Some cases show schizencephaly and it has been proposed as an added component of the syndrome by some authors. This fact has been refuted by others. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present the clinical and neuroanatomic revision of six children with septo-optic dysplasia studied by MR imaging over the last five years in our Department of Neuropediatrics. The aim was, that through the neuroembryological discussion of the morphopathological aspects of the patients, to determine the malformation and the time in which the injury, which was the underlying cause, occurred. RESULTS: From the six cases, in two only disruptive signs were evident with the optic nerves being affected asymmetrically, disruption of the corpus callosum, falx cerebri indemnity and effects in the cortex conformation. This was opposed to the dysgenic features in the other four cases which had no disruptive features. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that this entity could be the result of at least two different pathogenic processes, that is, a minor form of holoprosencephaly (dysgenesis) or a disruption which, therefore, occurs later in gestation.     

A novel cartilage protein (CILP) present in the mid-zone of human articular cartilage increases with age

A novel, somewhat basic noncollagenous protein was purified from guanidine hydrochloride extracts of human articular cartilage using cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation, followed by ion-exchange chromatography at pH 5, and gel filtration on two serially coupled columns of Superose 6 and Superdex 200. The protein of 91.5 kDa contains a single polypeptide chain substituted with N-linked oligosaccharides. It appeared unique to cartilage as studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblots of various tissue extracts. Its concentration in articular cartilages showed some variability with age being lower in young individuals. It represents a chondrocyte product, since it is synthesized by articular chondrocytes in explant cultures. Interestingly, the distribution of the protein in the articular cartilage provides important information on the nature of chondrocytes at different compartments in the tissue. Thus, chondrocytes in the middle/deeper layers of the tissue in particular, appeared to have produced the protein and deposited it in the interterritorial matrix. The protein was neither seen in the superficial nor in the deepest regions of the articular cartilage. Based on its immunolocalization we have named this protein CILP (cartilage intermediate layer protein).     

Cellular localization and changes in expression of prolactin receptor isoforms in sheep ovary throughout the estrous cycle

The actions of prolactin (PRL) on target cells depend on the type of prolactin receptor (PRLr) predominantly expressed, particularly whether the long PRLr isoform is expressed. The aims of this study were to determine the cellular localization and the changes in expression of long and short PRLr isoforms in sheep ovary throughout the estrous cycle. Long and short PRLrs were localized mostly in the same ovarian cells. Maximum signal intensity, particularly for long PRLrs, was found in stromal cells surrounding primordial and primary follicles, and, for both PRLrs, in granulosa cells of preantral follicles and in luteal cells. Moderate signal intensity for PRLrs was found in theca cells of preantral to ovulatory follicles, and in granulosa cells of antral follicles up to the gonadotropin-dependent stage. Decreasing immunoreactivity to PRLrs was found in granulosa cells of gonadotropin-dependent to ovulatory follicles. For long PRLrs in particular, no signal was found in mural granulosa cells of gonadotropin-dependent follicles; for both isoforms, no signal was found in most granulosa cells of ovulatory follicles. In primordial to gonadotropin-dependent follicles, cellular localization of PRLr was similar on days 0, 10 and 15 of the cycle. Oocytes consistently showed positive immunostaining for PRLrs. Comparative RT-PCR analysis of long and short PRLr expression showed that the short isoform is evenly expressed throughout the estrous cycle, whereas the expression of the long form increases at the time of estrus and decreases at mid-luteal phase and at the onset of the follicular phase. Expression of long PRLrs was greater than that of short PRLrs on day 0 of cycle; expression of both isoforms was similar on day 10 and on day 15, long PRLrs expression was lower than that of short PRLrs. Our results indicate that in sheep ovary, the maximum responsiveness to PRL might occur during the preovulatory phase of the estrous cycle.     

Morphological evaluation of bioartificial hydrogels as potential tissue engineering scaffolds

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels prepared by freeze-thawing procedure represent synthetic systems widely investigated as non-biodegradable scaffolds for tissue regeneration. In order to improve the biocompatibility properties of pure poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels, blends of PVA with different biological macromolecules, such hyaluronic acid, dextran, and gelatin were prepared and used to produce bioartificial hydrogels. The porosity characteristics of these hydrogels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The morphology of bioartificial hydrogels was evaluated and compared with that of pure PVA hydrogels. In particular the effect exerted by each biological component on pore size and distribution was investigated. The obtained results indicate that when a natural macromolecule is added to PVA the internal structure of the material changes. A small amount of biopolymer induces the structural elements of PVA matrix to take on a well evident lamellar appearance and an apparent preferential orientation. Comparing the results of SEM and mercury intrusion porosimetry it was concluded that hydrogels containing 20% of biological component have the most regular structure and at the same time the lowest total porosity. On the contrary samples with the highest content of natural polymer (40%) show the less regular structure and the highest total porosity.     

An Integrated CMOS Front-End for Optical Absolute Rotary Encoders

This paper presents a front-end circuit for optical rotary encoders. The light pulses modulated by the encoder disc are transduced into current signals, which are pre-processed and converted into digital waveforms related to the disc angular position information. The proposed front-end circuit is compensated against temperature drifts. Digitally programmable calibration is provided to account for spreads in impinging light pulse power. Measurement results on integrated prototypes are shown, demonstrating correct operation of the front-end with an optical input power from 0.5 W to 3 W up to a signal frequency of 500 kHz in a temperature range from 0 °C to 80 °C.