Physical mapping of cleavage sites recognized by restriction endonucleases on the genome of bacteriophage T5

The DNA of bacteriophage T5 has been treated with restriction endonucleases EcoRI, HindIII, BamI, SmaI, PstI, SalI, KpnI and the electrophoretic pattern obtained in agarose gel has been analyzed in order to localize the specific cleavage sites on the T5 DNA. The localization of cleavage sites has been reduced from the electrophoretic pattern of double and partial digests, the digests of isolated restriction fragments and the digests of deletion mutant T5st(o) DNA. Four BamI cleavage sites have been found and localized on the physical map of T5 DNA at 0.21, 0.225, 0.685 and 0.725 fractional length. Endonuclease SmaI cleaves at 0.39, 0.59 and 0.69 fractional length. Endonuclease PstI cuts T5 DNA at 11 sites: 0.090, 0.210, 0.320, 0.510, 0.635, 0.670, 0.705, 0.770, 0.815, 0.840, 0.875 fractional length. Six KpnI cleavage sites have been mapped at 0.170, 0.215, 0.525, 0.755, 0.830, 0.850 fractional length. A complete cleavage map of the phage genome is presented for seven restriction enzymes.     

Link Capacity Sharing between Guaranteed- and Best Effort Services on an ATM Transmission Link under GoS Constraints

While link allocation policies in multi-rate circuit switched loss models have drawn much attention in recent years, it is still an open question how to share the link capacity between service classes in a fair manner. In particular, when an ATM link is offered calls from service classes with/without strict QoS guarantees one is interested in link capacity sharing policies that maximize throughput and keep the per-class blocking probabilities under some GoS constraints. In this paper we propose a model and associated computational technique for an ATM transmission link to which CBR/VBR and ABR classes offer calls. We also propose a simple link allocation rule which takes into account blocking probability constraints for the CBR/VBR calls and a throughput constraint for the ABR calls and attempts to minimize the blocking probability of ABR calls. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the policy and of the applied computational technique.     

Evolution of mixing in a microfluidic reverse-staggered herringbone micromixer

Microfluidic platforms offer a variety of advantages including improved heat transfer, low working volumes, ease of scale-up, and stronger user control on operating parameters. However, flow within microfluidic channels occurs at low Reynolds number (Re), which makes mixing difficult to accomplish. Adding V-shaped ridges to channel walls, a pattern called the staggered herringbone design (SHB), alleviates this problem by introducing transverse flow patterns that enable enhanced mixing. Building on our prior work, we here developed a microfluidic mixer utilizing the SHB geometry and characterized using CFD simulations and complimentary experiments. Specifically, we investigated the performance of this type of mixer for unequal species diffusivities and inlet flows. A channel design with SHB ridges was simulated in COMSOL Multiphysics® software under a variety of operating conditions to evaluate its mixing capabilities. The device was fabricated using soft-lithography techniques to experimentally visualize the mixing process. Mixing within the device was enabled by injecting fluorescent dyes through the device and imaging using a confocal microscope. The device was found to efficiently mix fluids rapidly, based on both simulations and experiments. Varying Re or species diffusion coefficients had a weak effect on the mixing profile, due to the laminar flow regime and insufficient residence time, respectively. Mixing effectiveness increased as the species flow rate ratio increased. Fluid flow patterns visualized in confocal microscope images for selective cases were strikingly similar to CFD results, suggesting that the simulations serve as good predictors of device performance. This SHB mixer design would be a good candidate for further implementation as a microfluidic reactor.     

Adherence to management of high blood pressure: recommendations of the Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control

Adherence or compliance, in the context of medical treatment, refers to how well a patient follows and sticks to the management plan developed with her/his health care provider, which may include pharmacologic agents as well as changes in lifestyle. Adherence is of great concern in asymptomatic conditions such as hypertension, where lack of control may have serious ramifications including end organ damage and premature mortality. To address this issue, the Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control established a national Advisory Committee on Adherence to the Management of High Blood Pressure. The Advisory Committee consisted of 11 members from different disciplines of health care providers. The Committee reviewed all evidences to date and drew up four practical recommendations with respect to patient, provider and environment. Based on Canadian Task Force on Periodic Health Examination's guidelines, all four recommendations can be classified as 'level C' with a quality of evidence of II.     

Wechselwirkung zwischen dem nichtionischen Detergens „Ipafor”︁ und Mikroben

Interaction between the Non-Ionic Detergent “Ipafor” and Microbes Interactions between microbes and a non-ionic detergent “Ipafor” (alkylglycolester or -ether) have been investigated. The composition can be decomposed by various gram negative rods (intestinal microbes, dye formers). The decomposition of the detergent increases the viscosity of the nutrient medium. The addition of 1% Ipafor to agar nutrient medium has a germistatic effect on gram positive microbes. Only 6 strains of 72 investigated strains grew without inhibition in presence of 1% detergent. The gram negative microbes and fungi are more resistent against Ipafor than the gram positive germs. Comparing the effect of Ipafor with that of non-ionic detergents as dodecylbenzenesulfonate-sodium and laurylsulfonate-sodium shows that Ipafor can be judged better by the smaller microbic utilization and little germistatic effect with respect to environmental protection than the above mentioned compounds DBSNa, LSNa, because the self-purification processes in the surface waters are less disturbed.     

Using cross-modal lexical decision tasks to investigate sentence processing.

Recent investigations of sentence processing have used the cross-modal lexical decision task to show that the antecedent of a phonologically empty noun phrase (specifically, WH-trace) is reactivated at the trace position. G. McKoon et al (see record 1995-04309-001) claimed that (1) a design feature concerning the choice of related and unrelated targets is a possible confound in this work and (2) the conclusions drawn from this previous research are therefore called into question. These claims are considered in light of both the McKoon et al experimental findings and the results of the J. L. Nicol et al experiments in which linguistic materials are tested. Nicol et al argue that their results may be due to the nature of their materials, and that a follow-up experiment reported by McKoon and R. Ratcliff (see record 1995-04308-001) used a technique that is not comparable to the cross-modal lexical decision task. It is concluded that current evidence supports the claim that structural information is used during on-line sentence processing and that the cross-modal technique is sensitive to this. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Absorption,distribution and elimination of fumonisin B1 metabolites in weaned piglets

The absorption, distribution and elimination of fumonisin B₁ (and B₂) after oral administration of Fusarium verticillioides (MRC 826) fungal culture, mixed into the experimental feed for 10 days, was studied in weaned barrows. In order to determine the absorption of FB₁ from the feed marked by chromium oxide, a special T-cannula was implanted into the distal part of pigs’ ileum. During the feeding of toxin-containing diet (45 mg FB₁ kg^?1) and until the tenth day after the end of treatment, the total quantity of urine and faeces was collected and their toxin content analysed. At the end of the trial, samples of lung, liver, kidney, brain, muscle, and fat were also collected and their fumonisin content analysed by LC-MS. The fumonisins appeared to decrease the reduced glutathione content in blood plasma and red blood cell haemolysate, possibly associated with in vivo lipid peroxidation. From a data set of 80 individual data and the concentration and rate of C _r and fumonisins (FB₁, partially hydrolysed FB₁ and aminopentol) in the chymus, it could be established that the accumulative absorption of fumonisin B₁ was 3.9% ± 0.7%. In the chymus, the FB₁ conversions into aminopentol and partially hydrolysed FB₁ were 1.0 and 3.9%, respectively. The degree of metabolism in faeces was variable, although the main product was the partially hydrolysed form, with very small amounts of the aminopentol moiety being recovered. In the investigated tissues the FB₁ conversion to aminopentol and partially hydrolysed FB₁ was 30 and 20%, respectively.