An enterprise modelling CASE tool and data schema requirements for the selection of software support

This paper describes a prototype CASE tool which has been implemented to support the selection of software applications. It is argued that information structures are invariably linked to the operation of the enterprise and can, therefore, be used as a powerful basis both for the suitability assessment and selection of candidate software applications. A structured methodology for the modelling of the enterprise operation and development of information requirements is first outlined to establish the application domain of the CASE tool. The functionality of the CASE tool is subsequently described, showing how aspects of the enterprise are captured in terms of organization, functionality, resource and information. It will be demonstrated how the information structures, captured by the CASE tool, are subsequently developed into a schema and used for the evaluation of a suitable software application.     

In vitro evaluation of spray‐dried chitosan microspheres crosslinked with pyromellitic dianhydride for oral colon‐specific delivery of protein drugs

Chitosan microspheres have been prepared using a spray‐drying method, and crosslinked with pyromellitic dianhydride. The chemical structure of the modified chitosan was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and solid state 13C NMR analysis. The particle size and morphology of the crosslinked chitosan were investigated. These microspheres were evaluated for colon‐specific delivery of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein drug. The results indicate that the drug was released as follows: 37.1 ± 2.8% after 2 h in SGF, 73.1 ± 4.8% after 8 h (2 h in SGF+ 6 h in SIF), and 80.9 ± 4.1% after 12 h in SCF. The effect of β‐glucosidase on the drug release was also examined. The encapsulation efficiency was decreased from 88.4 ± 3.1% to 62.8 ± 2.9%, with increasing BSA concentration. Loading capacity was significantly increased from 6.3 ± 0.3% to 41.8 ± 4.1% by increasing the initial BSA concentration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40514.     

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Binding of Glycated Serum Albumin—Its Potential Role in the Pathogenesis of the COVID-19 Clinical Syndromes and Bias towards Individuals with Pre-Diabetes/Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases

The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection requires antibody recognition of the spike protein. In a study designed to examine the molecular features of anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid antibodies, patient plasma proteins binding to pre-fusion stabilised complete spike and nucleocapsid proteins were isolated and analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation–time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry. Amongst the immunoglobulins, a high affinity for human serum albumin was evident in the anti-spike preparations. Careful mass comparison revealed the preferential capture of advanced glycation end product (AGE) forms of glycated human serum albumin by the pre-fusion spike protein. The ability of bacteria and viruses to surround themselves with serum proteins is a recognised immune evasion and pathogenic process. The preference of SARS-CoV-2 for AGE forms of glycated serum albumin may in part explain the severity and pathology of acute respiratory distress and the bias towards the elderly and those with (pre)diabetic and atherosclerotic/metabolic disease.     

Protecting against corner impacts: sensitivities discovered during a rail cask impact limiter design

Type B packages for the transportation of radioactive materials must remain ‘essentially leak tight’ under severe regulatory accident conditions, defined in the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s 10 CFR 71·73 and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s TS-R-1. The 9-m free drop test requirement onto an unyielding surface is performed in an orientation ‘for which maximum damage is expected’. Analytical techniques are used to evaluate various possible impact orientations before testing, and historically these maximal damage orientations have been side, slap-down, end, and centre-of-gravity over corner. Other orientations are rarely considered. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was asked by Equipos Nucleares SA (ENSA) to design, analyse, and test an impact limiter system for a newly designed rail cask. During the conceptual design process, SNL performed due diligence and evaluated a wide spectrum of possible impact orientations, in order to assure that peak cask body acceleration design goals were not exceeded. However, design of the impact limiter, including not only crush strength of constituent materials (which can be orientation and temperature dependent), but also the shape of the impact limiter, greatly affects peak acceleration response during 9-m drops in various orientations. Although many impact limiter design shapes resemble truncated right circular cylinders attached to each end of the cask, some tend to round the outer corners or truncate those corners with conical sections. SNL’s original conceptual design followed a similar theme, intending to use polyurethane foam or aluminium honeycomb within a bevelled corner shaped cylindrical shell. Detailed finite element analyses indicated excellent impact resistance at regulatory cold temperatures in the stereotypically tested side, slap-down, end, and CGOC impact orientations. Shortly before proceeding to engineering design, a rarely-considered impact orientation of 45° from horizontal indicated that cask body acceleration levels jumped unexpectedly, exceeding the design goal due to insufficient crushable material protecting the sharp corner of the cask. A complete re-design of the impact limiter was necessary, and the lessons learned from this experience could have implications for future impact limiter designs, and possibly existing designs that may not have considered this atypical impact orientation during the design process.     

The fluid-filling system for the Borexino solar neutrino detector

The system for controlled filling of the nested flexible scintillator containment vessels in the Borexino solar neutrino detector is described. The design and operation principles of pressure and shape monitoring systems are presented for gas filling, gas displacement by water, and water displacement by scintillator. System specifications for safety against overstressing the flexible nylon vessels are defined as well as leak-tightness and cleanliness requirements. The fluid-filling system was a major engineering challenge for the Borexino detector.     

Structural and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrites synthesized using sol-gel techniques

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) was synthesized using sol-gel techniques from cobalt nitrate: iron nitrate: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel in a ratio of 1:2:12. Variations in the amount of PVA in water (5 %, 10 % and 15 %) influenced the crystallite size and phases of the ferrite products, which in turn controlled their magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction studies indicated single phase CoFe₂O₄ with larger crystallite size and with the hysteresis loops displaying an increase in both coercive field and squareness as the PVA content was increased. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that desorption of water and combustion of excess gel were clearly observed in CoFe₂O₄ prepared from 10 % and 15 % PVA in water. In the case of 5 % PVA in water, two other ratios of cobalt nitrate: iron nitrate: PVA solution were also tested and it was found that the 1:2:10 ratio led to the smallest coercive field and squareness.     

Developments in Cartesian Genetic Programming: self-modifying CGP

Self-modifying Cartesian Genetic Programming (SMCGP) is a general purpose, graph-based, developmental form of Genetic Programming founded on Cartesian Genetic Programming. In addition to the usual computational functions, it includes functions that can modify the program encoded in the genotype. This means that programs can be iterated to produce an infinite sequence of programs (phenotypes) from a single evolved genotype. It also allows programs to acquire more inputs and produce more outputs during this iteration. We discuss how SMCGP can be used and the results obtained in several different problem domains, including digital circuits, generation of patterns and sequences, and mathematical problems. We find that SMCGP can efficiently solve all the problems studied. In addition, we prove mathematically that evolved programs can provide general solutions to a number of problems: n-input even-parity, n-input adder, and sequence approximation to π.     

Passive navigation from image sequences by use of a volumetric approach

The paper describes a volumetric approach to depth estimation for robot navigation with use of only an approximately calibrated translating camera. Our approach is related to techniques for photo-realistic object reconstruction but with the emphasis on issues associated with navigation. The technique performs three-dimensional matching by a process of image interpolation and can adjust for errors in camera position. The reconstruction is achieved from a small angular range of scene views, and the technique is demonstrated to be insensitive to large errors in the camera positions. The ability to correct for more critical errors such as the camera orientation is shown to significantly improve the algorithm's performance. Our technique is demonstrated on real image sequences and compares favorably with techniques based on optical flow.     

Dry skin, moisturization and corneodesmolysis

The process leading to the loss of corneocytes form the skin surface is termed desquamation. In healthy skin it is an orderly and essentially invisible process whereby individual or small groups of corneocytes detach from neighbouring cells to be lost to the environment and replaced by younger cells from the deeper layers. Desquamation is carefully controlled to ensure that corneum cohesion and integrity, and hence tissue thickness, is maintained. The most important components of the corneocytes contributing towards intercellular cohesion are the corneodesmosomes and lipids. Corneodesmosomes are proteinaceous complexes which effectively rivet corneocytes together. The intercellular lipids, primarily responsible for the water barrier, also provide part of the extracellular cement. In addition, the shape of the corneocyte itself plays a role in stratum corneum cohesion. Through interdigitation along their peripheral edges, adjacent corneocytes become physically locked together, a process which reinforces the integrity of the tissue. For effective desquamation to occur corneodesmosomes must be degraded: a process catalysed by serine proteases present within the intercellular space and facilitated by subtle changes in lipid composition and phase behaviour. Ultimately, it is the availability of free water which controls corneodesmolysis. In healthy skin this proteolytic process leaves relatively few corneodesmosomes intact in the most superficial layers. By contrast, in chronic and acute dry skin conditions, corneodesmosomal degradation and hence the final stages of desquamation are perturbed, leading to the characteristic formation of visible, powdery flakes on the skin surface. The inability to degrade these structures ultimately reflects a decreased hydrolytic activity of the desquamatory enzymes, either through reduced synthesis of the enzymes, inherent loss of activity, leaching from the surface layers of the corneum or changes in the surrounding lipid-rich microenvironment, which may indirectly reduce enzyme functionality. Increased understanding of the desquamation process is providing new insights into the mode of action of current moisturizing ingredients and is offering opportunities to develop novel therapies for preventing and correcting dry skin.