β‐Polypropylene/wood flour composites: Effects of specific β‐nucleation and coupling agent on mechanical behavior

Polypropylene/wood flour composites were prepared by melt compounding. To improve their mechanical performance, the matrix polypropylene was modified with a specific nucleation agent based on an amide of dicarboxylic acid, which promotes crystallization predominantly in the β‐phase. The resulting material was used as a matrix for composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% of wood flour. Uniform dispersion of the filler and improved interfacial adhesion was ensured by compatibilization with a small amount of maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene. A beneficial effect of application of the nucleation agent together with a compatibilizer on the resulting mechanical behavior was shown. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 506–511, 2007     

An auto-framing method for stochastic process signal by using a hidden Markov model based approach

In this paper, an “auto-framing” method, an algorithmic method to divide stochastic time-series process data into appropriate intervals, is developed based on the approach of hidden Markov model (HMM). While enormous amounts of process time-series data are being measured and collected today, their use is limited by the high costs to gather, store, and analyze them. “Data-framing” refers to the task of dividing stochastic signal data into time frames of distinct patterns so that the data can be stored and analyzed in an efficient manner. Data-framing is typically carried out manually, but doing so can be both laborious and ineffective. For the purpose of automating the data-framing task, stochastic signals of switching patterns are modeled using a hidden Markov model (HMM) based jump linear system (JLS), which switches the stochastic model probabilistically in accordance with the underlying Markov chain. Based on the model, an estimator is constructed to estimate from the collected signal data the state sequence of the underlying Markov chain, which is subsequently used to decide on the framing points. An Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm, which is composed of two optimal estimators, fixed interval Kalman smoother and Viterbi algorithm, is used to estimate for the state estimation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the HMM-based approach for auto-framing using simulated data constructed based on real industrial data.     

Structure–Activity Relationships and Molecular Docking of Novel Dihydropyrimidine‐Based Mitotic Eg5 Inhibitors

Dihydropyrimidine‐based compounds belong to the first discovered inhibitors of the human mitotic kinesin Eg5. Although they are used by many research groups as model compounds for chemical genetics, considerably less emphasis has been placed on the improvement of this type of inhibitor, with the exception of two recent studies. Dihydropyrimidines can be divided into class I (analogues that bind in the S configuration) and class II type inhibitors, which bind in the R configuration. Herein we report the synthesis and optimization of novel class II type dihydropyrimidines using a combination of in vitro and docking techniques.     

The effect of online platform maturity on the efficiency of offline industry

The role of platform as an information mediator has been becoming more vital by satisfying buyers’ needs for a reasonable purchase and sellers’ need for more exposure to buyers within the copious information flood. For the platform service provider, increasing the network externality is important to induce both sides while platforms can cause sellers to invest more and create severe competition among sellers, which take a toll on sellers’ surplus. Therefore, this study investigates whether platforms yield benefits for sellers as the platform matures, securing the network externality. Thus, this study divides the seller side industry into 3 periods based on the level of platform maturation. The efficiency in each period is measured using stochastic frontier analysis and efficiencies of each period are compared using meta-frontier analysis. The results show the overall industry efficiency improves with securing the network externality as the platform matures. However, if the individual firm is resistant to innovation, the firm’s efficiency might not be far behind compared to the firm which led the innovation.     

Small Molecule Binding,Docking, and Characterization of the Interaction between Pth1 and Peptidyl-tRNA

Bacterial Pth1 is essential for viability. Pth1 cleaves the ester bond between the peptide and nucleotide of peptidyl-tRNA generated from aborted translation, expression of mini-genes, and short ORFs. We have determined the shape of the Pth1:peptidyl-tRNA complex using small angle neutron scattering. Binding of piperonylpiperazine, a small molecule constituent of a combinatorial synthetic library common to most compounds with inhibitory activity, was mapped to Pth1 via NMR spectroscopy. We also report computational docking results, modeling piperonylpiperazine binding based on chemical shift perturbation mapping. Overall these studies promote Pth1 as a novel antibiotic target, contribute to understanding how Pth1 interacts with its substrate, advance the current model for cleavage, and demonstrate feasibility of small molecule inhibition.     

Induction of apoptosis by ethanolic extract of mango peel and comparative analysis of the chemical constitutes of mango peel and flesh

The underlying mechanisms of the anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of mango peel (EEMP) and its constituents were investigated. EEMP induced death of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells through apoptosis, as evidenced by the increased cell population in the sub-G1 phase and the appearance of fragmented nuclei. Treatment of the cells with EEMP also downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, resulting in the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, 7, 8, and 9 and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. The major components of mango peel were identified by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Our data suggest that EEMP is an excellent source of quercetin 3-O-galactoside, mangiferin gallate, isomangiferin gallate, quercetin-3-O-arabinopyranoside, and mangiferin along with unsaturated fatty acids oleic acid, linoleic acid, and ethyl linoleate, which may help to prevent cervical cancer and may be a useful agent for the treatment of some other malignancies.     

Mobile Model-Based Bridge Lifecycle Management System

Abstract:   This article discusses the requirements for developing a mobile model-based bridge lifecycle management system (MMBLMS). This new system should link all the information about the lifecycle stages of a bridge (e.g., design, construction, inspection, and maintenance) to a 4D model of the bridge incorporating different scales of space and time to record events throughout the lifecycle with suitable levels of details (LoDs). In addition, MMBLMS should support distributed databases and mobile location-based computing by providing user interfaces that can be used on mobile computers, such as tablet PCs. A framework for MMBLMS is described and the basic computational issues for realizing it are discussed including the navigation modes, the picking behavior and the LoDs for representing bridge elements and defects. A prototype system developed in Java language is used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed methodology for realizing this system.     

Diversity of yeasts in the soil adjacent to fruit trees of the Rosaceae family

Yeasts are common constituents of different types of soil. Their diversity depends on the season, the type and depth of the soil, the plant species, and the locality. In this study, diversity of yeasts isolated from the soil adjacent to five fruit trees (apple, appricot, peach, pear, and plum) in two localities (in Slovakia) in four sampling periods was examined. Our results demonstrated differences in the species richness and evenness among the yeast populations, which inhabited the soil beneath individual fruit tree species in both localities. Altogether, 32 ascomycetous and 27 basidiomycetous yeast species were discovered. The highest species richness was found in the soil adjacent to the apricot trees. Galactomyces candidum, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Schwanniomyces capriottii, and Tausonia pullulans, as well as the genus Apiotrichum, were present in soil samples in all samplings. Two species of the genus Holtermanniella (H. festucosa and H. takashimae) were exclusively isolated during Sampling IV in April. Cyberlindnera spp., Clavispora reshetovae, S. capriottii, and Trichosporon asahii were found only in one of two localities. Ascomycetous yeasts were present more frequently than their basidiomycetous counterparts in the three samplings (one in June and two in October); they formed from 65.6% to 70.8% of the total yeast population, whereas basidiomycetous yeasts prevailed in the April sampling (61.2%).