Discovery of Ligands for the Human Intestinal Di‐/Tripeptide Transporter (hPEPT1) Using a QSAR‐Assisted Virtual Screening Strategy

The discovery of novel ligands for the hPEPT1 transporter is reported. By exploiting a fast and rigorously validated QSAR model in combination with the distance in activity‐centered chemical space (DACCS) approach, a database of commercially available compounds (Sigma–Aldrich) was screened for virtual hits. Twelve compounds were then purchased and characterized in an apical [¹⁴C]Gly‐Sar uptake competition assay. Four compounds displayed affinity in the medium‐to‐high range. A simple benzophenone derivative displayed high affinity with a sub‐millimolar binding constant (K_i=0.24 mM ). The results of this study will serve as starting points for future projects, including the design and synthesis of compound libraries that seek to systematically explore the fundamental requirements for binding and transport by hPEPT1.     

Patterns-based evaluation of open source BPM systems: The cases of jBPM,OpenWFE, and Enhydra Shark

In keeping with the proliferation of free software development initiatives and the increased interest in the business process management domain, many open source workflow and business process management systems have appeared during the last few years and are now under active development. This upsurge gives rise to two important questions: What are the capabilities of these systems? and How do they compare to each other and to their closed source counterparts? In other words: What is the state-of-the-art in the area?. To gain an insight into these questions, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of three of the major open source workflow management systems – jBPM, OpenWFE, and Enhydra Shark, the results of which are reported here. This analysis is based on the workflow patterns framework and provides a continuation of the series of evaluations performed using the same framework on closed source systems, business process modelling languages, and web-service composition standards. The results from evaluations of the three open source systems are compared with each other and also with the results from evaluations of three representative closed source systems: Staffware, WebSphere MQ, and Oracle BPEL PM. The overall conclusion is that open source systems are targeted more toward developers rather than business analysts. They generally provide less support for the patterns than closed source systems, particularly with respect to the resource perspective, i.e. the various ways in which work is distributed amongst business users and managed through to completion.     

Self-controlled visual discrimination learning of group-housed dwarf goats (Capra hircus): Behavioral strategies and effects of relocation on learning and memory.

In most studies on animal learning, individual animals are tested separately in a specific learning environment and with a limited number of trials per day. An alternative approach is to test animals in a familiar environment in their social group. In this study, the authors--applying a fully automated learning device--investigated voluntary, self-controlled visual shape discrimination learning of group-housed dwarf goats (Capra hircus). The majority of the tested goats showed successful shape discrimination, which indicates the adaptive value of an effective learning strategy. However, in each group, a few individual goats developed behavioral strategies different from shape discrimination to get reward. Relocation impairs memory retrieval (probably by attention shifting) only temporarily for previously learnt shapes. The results demonstrate the usefulness of a self-controlled learning paradigm to assess learning abilities of social species in their normal social settings. This may be especially relevant for captive animals to improve their welfare. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of the current distribution in a direct methanol fuel cell—Confirmation of parallel galvanic and electrolytic operation within one cell

Current production in fuel cells is typically unequally distributed along the cell surface due to inhomogeneous concentration of reactants and temperature. The inhomogeneities in fuel cells can result in reduced output power and accelerated ageing. To quantify the inhomogeneities a measurement system has been developed which allows measuring the local distribution of current and temperature in hydrogen and direct methanol fuel cells. With this system we are able to directly observe the coexistence of galvanic and electrolytic domains in a single channel direct methanol fuel cell (the electrolytic domain is the domain where electrolysis occurs in contrast to the galvanic domain where the fuel cell process takes place). The measurement device also allows for the measurement locally resolved impedance spectra.     

Aligning goals and services through goal and business modelling

E-services are used as the cornerstones for modelling interaction points of cooperating IT systems, within and between enterprises. So far, research and development of e-services have mainly focused on an operational perspective, such as the development of standards for message exchanges and service coordination. However, on a strategic level, the success of e-services depends on their ability to work as a medium for the exchange of business values. In this paper, we present an approach that utilizes goal and business models as the foundation for designing e-services. The approach can be used to ensure that the developed e-services support the desired goals and business values of involved actors. A case study from the Swedish health care sector is used to ground and apply the presented approach.     

Water and sewage in caverns and tunnels: Thirty years experience in Sweden

Specific advantages of caverns and tunnels in rock determine the choice of rock installations for transporting and treating water and waste water. However, certain adaptations of the systems to the rock conditions are required for the successful utilization of these installations. Many years of continuous operation of such installations in Sweden have provided invaluable information on their design, construction, operation and maintenance, as well as on the requirements for safe, healthy interior and exterior environments. The author is convinced that the demands for both water supply and environmental protection, in conjunction with current and future vast urbanization, will create situations where caverns and tunnels will offer appripriate solutions. It is hoped that Sweden's experience with numerous successful installations will encourage engineers and decision-makers to choose the rock alternative.     

A comparative study of first and all-author co-citation counting,and two different matrix generation approaches applied for author co-citation analyses

Aim  The present article contributes to the current methodological debate concerning author co-citation analyses. (ACA) The study compares two different units of analyses, i.e. first- versus inclusive all-author co-citation counting, as well as two different matrix generation approaches, i.e. a conventional multivariate and the so-called Drexel approach, in order to investigate their influence upon mapping results. The aim of the present study is therefore to provide more methodological awareness and empirical evidence concerning author co-citation studies. Method  The study is based on structured XML documents extracted from the IEEE collection. These data allow the construction of ad-hoc citation indexes, which enables us to carry out the hitherto largest all-author co-citation study. Four ACA are made, combining the different units of analyses with the different matrix generation approaches. The results are evaluated quantitatively by means of multidimensional scaling, factor analysis, Procrustes and Mantel statistics. Results  The results show that the inclusion of all cited authors can provide a better fit of data in two-dimensional mappings based on MDS, and that inclusive all-author co-citation counting may lead to stronger groupings in the maps. Further, the two matrix generation approaches produce maps that have some resemblances, but also many differences at the more detailed levels. The Drexel approach produces results that have noticeably lower stress values and are more concentrated into groupings. Finally, the study also demonstrates the importance of sparse matrices and their potential problems in connection with factor analysis. Conclusion  We can confirm that inclusive all-ACA produce more coherent groupings of authors, whereas the present study cannot clearly confirm previous findings that first-ACA identifies more specialties, though some vague indication is given. Most crucially, strong evidence is given to the determining effect that matrix generation approaches have on the mapping of author co-citation data and thus the interpretation of such maps. Evidence is provided for the seemingly advantages of the Drexel approach.     

HOPS LIAISON COMMITTEE*: INTERNATIONAL HOP VARIETY TRIALS 1965–1967

This report covers a series of International Hop Variety Trials for the final 3 years for which they were carried out. The results generally confirm those obtained for the first 5 years. The object, history and organization of the trials are described and the results are discussed.