Linear programming with imprecise data

Conventional linear programming requires the deterministic specification of all the relevant data but generally this is only known imprecisely. Several ways in which imprecision may be incorporated into the programs are discussed. These include proximate programming, inexact programming and fuzzy programming. A simple illustrative example concerned with water quality is reworked using some of the described techniques. Fuzzy programming is a particularly useful model which can handle imprecision with respect to all the parameters and can also incorporate multiple goals.     

Effective Medium Theory of the Porosity Dependence of Bulk Moduli

Effective medium theory is used to obtain a closed- form expression for the porosity dependence of the bulk moduli of ceramics. The theory is illustrated with an application to data for high-purity alumina that spans a volume fraction of porosity ranging from 0.5% to 90%.     

Some Textile Applications of Finite-element Analysis Part II: Finite Elements for Yarn Mechanics

The concepts of modal decomposition developed in an earlier paper are used to produce a three-dimensional element for aligned fibre assemblies. The element degrees of freedom are introduced and the chosen mode shapes of the element demonstrated. The finite element is tested by using simple material-property assumptions, and the element is verified against a theoretical model of the twisting of a single fibre about a solid core. The element is then verified qualitatively by modelling realistic yarn situations, and the resultant deformation plots are presented.     

Reducing pregnancy and induced abortion rates in China: family planning with husband participation

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness of a family planning intervention with and without husband's participation in reducing pregnancy and abortion rates in Shanghai, China. METHODS: In this 3-arm randomized trial among 1800 nonsterilized married women, educational interventions targeting both spouses and targeting the wife only were compared with usual family planning care. RESULTS: Among women not using intrauterine devices (IUDs), the intervention with husband's participation had an effect in reducing pregnancy rates (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12, 1.1) and abortion rates (adjusted OR = 0.29, CI = 0.09, 0.94) compared with control subjects, and a significant effect in reducing pregnancy rates (adjusted OR = 0.29, CI = 0.10, 0.85) and abortion rates (adjusted OR = 0.24, CI = 0.07, 0.77) compared with wife-only subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Family planning interventions involving husbands may reduce pregnancy and abortion rates among non-IUD users.     

Altered inotropic response of endothelin-1 in cardiomyocytes from rats with isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy

Retrograde transport from the Golgi to the ER is an essential process. Resident ER proteins that escape the ER and proteins that cycle between the Golgi and the ER must be retrieved. The interdependence of anterograde and retrograde vesicle trafficking makes the dissection of both processes difficult in vivo. We have developed an in vitro system that measures the retrieval of a soluble reporter protein, the precursor of the yeast pheromone alpha-factor fused to a retrieval signal (HDEL) at its COOH terminus (Dean, N., and H.R.B Pelham. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 111:369-377). Retrieval depends on the HDEL sequence; the alpha-factor precursor, naturally lacking this sequence, is not retrieved. A full cycle of anterograde and retrograde transport requires a simple set of purified cytosolic proteins, including Sec18p, the Lma1p complex, Uso1p, coatomer, and Arf1p. Among the membrane-bound v-SNAP receptor (v-SNARE) proteins, Bos1p is required only for forward transport, Sec22p only for retrograde trafficking, and Bet1p is implicated in both avenues of transport. Putative retrograde carriers (COPI vesicles) generated from Golgi-enriched membranes contain v-SNAREs as well as Emp47p as cargo.     

Identification of potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II from an encoded statine combinatorial library

An encoded 13,020-member combinatorial library was synthesized containing a statine core. Evaluation of this library with plasmepsin II, an aspartyl protease required for hemoglobin metabolism in the malaria parasite, led to the identification of potent and selective inhibitors as well as novel structure-activity relationships.     

A O(|V|·|E|) algorithm for maximum matching of graphs

This paper presents an algorithm which finds a maximum matching in a graph withn nodes andm edges within timek ₁ mn+k ₂ , wherek ₁ andk ₂ are constants. It is also shown that a maximum degree-constrained subgraph can be found within timek ₃ m ³ +k ₄ , wherek ₃ andk ₄, are constants. Use of random access computer is assumed in the computation of the time bounds.     

Space-use strategy is an important determinant of PCB concentrations in female polar bears in the Barents Sea

Space-use was examined in 54 female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard and the Barents Sea that were collared with satellite transmitters to provide information on their spatial positions and annual home range sizes. Plasma samples from the same animals were analyzed for concentrations of six relevant PCB congeners (PCB-99, -153, -156, -180, -194, and -118). Factors related to space-use strategy (such as home range size; annual, spring, and winter longitudinal position; and spring and summer latitudinal position) were important determinants of PCB concentrations in plasma. In addition, reproductive status of the polar bears and plasma lipid content affected PCB concentrations. Among the tested variables, annual home range size was the variable that affected sigmaPCB5 (sum of PCB-99, -153, -156, -180, and -194) to the largest degree (r2 = 0.22). We propose that the positive effect of home range size on sigmaPCB5 in female polar bears is related to the higher energetic costs required to occupy large home range sizes as compared to small home range sizes. Polar bears with large home range sizes would need to consume more prey than bears with small home range sizes, and increased feeding without a change in elimination of persistent compounds can explain their higher sigmaPCB5 concentrations. Polar bears with large home range sizes were also more pelagic, inhabiting areas further east, closer to the ice-edge zone than animals with small home range sizes. Thus, prey choice associated with a pelagic space-use strategy may also explain the higher sigmaPCB5 in polar bears with large home range sizes.     

Electrokinetic injection for stacking neutral analytes in capillary and microchip electrophoresis

An on-column mechanism for electrokinetically injecting long sample plugs with simultaneous stacking of neutral analytes in capillary electrokinetic chromatography is presented. On-column stacking methods allow for the direct injection of long sample plugs into the capillary, with narrowing of the analyte peak width to allow for an increase in the detected signal. Low-pressure injections (approximately 50 mbar) are commonly used to introduce sample plugs containing neutral analytes. We demonstrate that injection can be accomplished by applying an electric field from the sample vial directly into the capillary, with neutral analytes injected by electroosmotic flow at up to 1 order of magnitude faster than the corresponding pressure injections. Since stacking occurs simultaneously with electrokinetic injection, stacking is initiated at the capillary inlet, resulting in an increased length of capillary remaining for separation. Reproducibility obtained for peak height and peak area with electroosmotic flow injection is comparable to that obtained with the pressure injection mode, while reproducibility of analysis time is markedly improved. Electrokinetic stacking of neutral analytes utilizing electroosmotic flow is demonstrated with discontinuous (high conductivity, high mobility) as well as continuous (equal conductivity, equal mobility) sample electrolytes. Injecting neutral analytes by electroosmotic flow affords a 10-fold or greater decrease in analysis times when capillaries of 50-microm i.d. or smaller are used. This stacking method should be exportable to dynamic pH junction stacking and electrokinetic chromatography with capillary arrays. Equations describing this electrokinetic injection mode are introduced and stacking of a neutral analyte on a microchip by electrokinetic injection using a simple cross-T channel configuration is demonstrated.