125I-labelling of an internally 75Se-labelled monoclonal antibody--biodistribution in tumour-bearing nude mice

A monoclonal antibody, C215, was first internally labelled with 75Se-methionine and then labelled with 125I. The biodistribution of the dual-labelled [125I][75Se]C215 was studied in tumour-bearing nude mice killed 3 days after injection. The biodistribution of the dual-labelled [125I][75Se]C215 was compared with the biodistribution of single-labelled [131I]C215 and [75Se]C215. Iodine-labelled antibodies seem to be damaged during iodination, affecting the disappearance rate and tumour uptake. There were no signs of dehalogenation of circulating antibodies or antibodies taken up in the tumour.     

Rekonstruktion von Barockspiegeln des Historischen Grünen Gewölbes im Dresdener Schloss

Reconstruction of Baroque Mirrors of the Historical Green Vault in the Dresden Royal Palace On the 1^st September 2006 the Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel inaugurated the reconstructed Historical Green Vault, the treasury museum of the Saxon electors and kings. Since its destruction on 13^th February 1945 two generations have been working scientific‐artistically in order to set the course for its reconstruction. The idea of a baroque mirror chamber has firstly been implemented on a sequence of 8 rooms in the Green Vault. The original mirrors, which were covered with tin amalgam, had a considerably lower reflexivity modern day silver mirrors. From originally 423 m² mirror surface, only 60 m² could be reused. For the restoration and reconstruction of the original mirrors extensive analytic investigations became necessary, which the state‐owned company Sächsisches Immobilien‐ und Baumanagement (SIB) commissioned the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP). On basis of these results the responsible restoration commission decided to replace partly destroyed mirror surfaces using the historical tin amalgam mirror technology. The fully destroyed jewel room would be restored with mirrors including partial gold etching. Due to hygienical and temporal reasons those mirrors were coated through a mercury‐free vacuum thin film technology ‐ the magnetron sputtering. The results show that a layer system consisting of tin‐bronze‐titanium and protective lacquers represent an adequate replacement for the original tin amalgam mirrors. The procedure allows relatively uncomplicated partial silverings and a subsequent inserting of artistic gold etchings.     

Don't underestimate the problems of user centredness in software development projectsthere are many!

. On the basis of a longitudinal field study of 29 commercial software development projects, the pros and cons of user centredness in software development were analysed. We looked at two concepts: user participation-an organizational device-involving a user representative in the team, and user orientation-a cognitive-emotional concept-which pertains to positive attitudes towards users. Both were found to be associated with project difficulties relating to process and product quality as well as overall project success. We suggest that the issue is no longer whether or not to involve users, but instead to develop a realistic understanding of the difficulties associated with user centredness.     

The transfer of infiltration measurement results to other sewers by means of discriminant analysis.

The cost-oriented and sustainable operation of sewer systems requires a comprehensive knowledge about the infiltration situation in the catchment. Owing to the high expenditures for infiltration measurements a reliable transfer of measurement results to other sewer sections would be highly beneficial. Assuming a functional relationship between sewer characteristics and infiltration rates can be identified, such a transfer can be realised by means of classification techniques. In this paper a method is introduced which is based on discriminant analysis and which allows for a transfer of measurement results to similar sub-catchments. The method was applied using two data sets with measured or virtual infiltration rates. It yields acceptable results as a total fraction of 50% to 75% of the investigated sub-catchments was assigned correctly. Furthermore, additional information to assess the results was provided. The quality of the transfer results depends strongly on the homogeneity of the considered sub-catchments. Due to this restriction the practical applicability of the method is restricted. Nevertheless, it might be used as a screening procedure for planning of effective detailed infiltration investigations.     

Tumor properties of primary tumors and local recurrence of breast cancer

In 137 patients suffering from a local recurrence after primary treatment of breast cancer, the features examined in a retrospective manner included: staging parameters (TNM-criteria), grading according to Bloom and Richardson, growth fraction by Ki67 positive cells as well as immunohistology and biochemical steroidreceptor-expression. In the primary tumours, a good correlation was detected between size of the tumour and lymph-node involvement, between histopathological grading and Ki67 growth fraction and between low histopathological grading and poor immunohistological and biochemical steroidreceptor content. The results of this particular study show that local recurrence is not accompanied by any significant de-differentiation, neither in its histopathological grading nor in its growth fraction nor in its steroidreceptor-status.     

Successful adaptive control of paper machines

The papermaking process can be viewed as a time-varying stochastic system. The purpose of the control is to minimize the variance of moisture and basis weight of the manufactured paper. In the framework of stochastic theory and recently published papers on adaptive control an algorithm has been developed to cover the above-mentioned purpose. The strategy which hardly requires any a priori knowledge about the process is, in fact, a self-adjusting regulator. The central part of the algorithm is a compact identification scheme which gives directly the optimal control action. It is notable that contrary to normal identification and control methods the process dynamics never need to be calculated. The algorithm has been applied to several real-time computer control systems for paper machines. Up to now medium-scale computers have been used, but as the control program is powerful and short, some hundred words in length, it is in fact sufficient to perform the control with a mini-computer. Before the implementation of the algorithm for the above processes, the control system was built around digitalized PI-controllers, the parameters of which were carefully chosen and constant. A great number of comparative tests have been made in order to evaluate the efficiency of the adaptive regulator. The results were so successful that the algorithm has been permanently installed in the systems. The algorithm has not only decreased the output variance but also reduced the losses at quality changes and mill set-ups. Finally, it should be mentioned that the general nature of the algorithm permits application to many other types of processes.