Production of proteinase A by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a cell-recycling fermentation system: experiments and computer simulations

Overproduction of proteinase A by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated by cultivations in a cell-recycling bioreactor. Membrane filtration was used to separate cells from the broth. Recycling ratios and dilution rates were varied and the effect on enzyme production was studied both experimentally and by computer simulations. Experiments and simulations showed that cell mass and product concentration were enhanced by high ratios of recycling. Additional simulations showed that the proteinase A concentration decreased drastically at high dilution rates and the optimal volumetric productivities were at high dilution rates just below washout and at high ratios of recycling. Cell-recycling fermentation gave much higher volumetric productivities and stable product concentrations in contrast to simple continuous fermentation.     

Increased concentrations of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in cases with breast cancer--results from a case-control study

Organochlorines are persistent and highly lipophilic environmental contaminants which bioaccumulate in the food chain. Some of these chemicals, 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have been suggested to be of significance in the aetiology of breast cancer. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an anti-oestrogen in animal studies and should be thus lower the risk of breast cancer. The other isomers of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) or the chemically related polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have not been tested regarding carcinogenesis of the breast. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether PCDDs or PCDFs influence the risk for breast cancer. Consecutive patients who underwent surgery for a breast disease between 1993 and 1995 were recruited for the study. Cases were 22 patients with infiltrative breast cancer and controls were 19 patients operated for a benign breast disease during the same time period. Approximately 10 g of breast tissue free from tumour was taken from the specimen and frozen until analysis. Fat was extracted, cleaned and analysed with a high-resolution gas chromatograph coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer. Median concentrations of octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) were 598 (170-14,880) and 396 (103-1,847) pg/g lipid in the cases and in the controls, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for other risk factors for breast cancer increased odds ratio (OR) was obtained for OCDD: 401-1000 pg/g lipid yielded OR 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-39, > 1000 pg/g lipid gave OR 5.2, CI 0.4-72. When the lipid OCDD variable was examined as a continuous risk factor there was a 1.09 (9%), CI 0.95-1.25, increase in the adjusted OR for breast cancer per 100 unit (pg/g lipid) increase in OCDD. No differences were found between cases and controls for the other six tested PCDDs. Mean concentration of TCDD was in the cases 3.6 (1.0-7.9) and in the controls 3.3 (1.1-6.3) pg/g lipid. For PCDFs no significant differences were found between cases and controls. The results were not changed if oestrogen or progesterone receptor status, S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy were considered. Breast tissue concentration of OCDD was increased in cancer patients, whereas the concentrations of other PCDDs and PCDFs were equal in cases and controls.     

trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine is a substrate for and inactivator of horseradish peroxidase

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is well known for mediating the electron-transfer oxidation of electron-rich aromatic 'donors' such as phenols and anilines, but has not been described to oxidize aliphatic amines. We here confirm the inability of HRP to oxidize typical aliphatic amines, even those which would exist significantly as free bases at the operative pH. In contrast, trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine (2-PCPA) is both a substrate (turnover product is cinnamaldehyde) and a time-dependent inactivator of HRP. These activities of 2-PCPA are consistent with either a concerted or rapid sequential one-electron-oxidation/ring-opening to give an intermediate capable of covalent binding to the enzyme. 2-PCPA is the first known example of a simple aliphatic amine which serves as a substrate for HRP under turnover conditions.     

A Topological Implementation for Motion Planning of a Robotic Arm

An efficient path planning algorithm based on topologic method is presented in this paper.The collision free path planning for three-joint robotic arm consists of three parts:partition of C-space,construction of CN and search for a path in CN.We mainly solved the problems of partitioning the C-space and undging the connectivity between connected blocks,etc.For the motion planning of a robotic arm with a gripper,we developed the concepts of global planning and local planning,and discussed the basic factors for constructing the planning system.In the paper,some evaluation and analysis of the complexity and reliability of the algorithm are given,together with some ideas to improve the efficiency and increase the reliability.At last,some experimental results are pesented to show the efficency and accuracy of the algorithm.     

Deformation and fracture of glass bead/ CTBN-rubber/epoxy composites

Carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile-rubber decreases modulus and yield stress of the studied epoxy but increases fracture toughness. The addition of glass bead compensates for the loss in modulus but has little effect on yield stress. However, it significantly contributes to the fracture toughness by providing additional mechanisms for toughening of both the unmodified and rubber-modified epoxy. For the toughened epoxies studied, fracture surfaces gave only limited information on fracture mechanisms since significant energy absorption also occurs in the material below the fracture surface. Suggestions for suitable material compositions for fiber composite matrices are given.     

场顺序彩色显示器

荫罩CRT受自身结构的限制,要进一步改进其分辨率就有很大的困难。近年已研制成一种获得彩色图像的颇有吸引力的替代品,即场顺序彩色显示器。它由单色CRT和液晶电子色闸组成,称之为LC/CRT系统。液晶电子色闸由液晶π盒及其连用的偏振片组成,可看成是老式机械彩色轮那样的一种电控色带带通滤色片。本文描述了液晶电子色闸的功能及其工作优点,讨论了其可能结构与显示特性。     

国外MCM及其主要制造技术的发展现状

MCM具有胜过PCB、LSI和一般HIC的诸多优点,正在逢勃发展,可望成为九十年代的代表性技术。本文从市场和技术两个方面评述MCM的发展潜力,重点介绍近年来国外MCM主要制造技术的现状及发展态势,试图引起人们对它的关注。     

不等波纹函数低通原型的理论及应用

本文提出不等波纹函数低通原型，并对其理论进行初步探讨。切比雪夫函数及最平坦型巴特活兹函数皆为其特例。文中给出不等波纹函数的几个性质，最后给出两个应用实例，消除耦合环自感部分的影响；抑制高次模的微带圆盘腔带通滤波器。