Gene Transfer Systems and Molecular Cloning in Group N Streptococci: A Review

Plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid of group N streptococci codes for a wide variety of important metabolic properties associated with dairy fermentations. The increasing knowledge of the genetics of these bacteria has created exciting possibilities for genetically constructing improved starter strains. A review of current literature is presented on the genetics of group N streptococci, especially the development and implications of gene transfer and molecular cloning systems for further genetic studies and for strain improvement. Functional properties of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid and gene transfer systems, which include transduction, conjugation, transformation, and protoplast fusion, are reviewed and followed by a discussion of recent advances in gene cloning.     

A ultra-high-vacuum wafer-fusion-bonding system

The design of heterojunction devices is typically limited by material integration constraints and the energy band alignment. Wafer bonding can be used to integrate material pairs that cannot be epitaxially grown together due to large lattice mismatch. Control of the energy band alignment can be provided by formation of interface dipoles through control of the surface chemistry. We have developed an ultra-high-vacuum system for wafer-fusion-bonding semiconductors with in situ control and measurement of surface properties relevant to interface dipoles. A wafer-fusion-bonding chamber with annealing capabilities was integrated into an ultra-high-vacuum system with a sputtering chamber and an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system for preparing and measuring the surface chemistry of wafers prior to bonding. The design of the system along with initial results for the fusion-bonded InGaAs/Si heterojunction is presented.     

A Web-based tool and a heuristic method for cooperation of manufacturing supply chain decisions

Supply chain issues have been given much attention. Various technologies and concepts have been applied to improving and optimizing supply chain performance. However, few methods to explore supply chain inter-relationships, detect process key problems and co-ordinate planning processes in different supply chain partners are available. A Web-based co-ordinated planning process supported by quality function deployment (QFD) approach is proposed in this research. The planning method is focused on integrating planning processes in supply chains by optimizing each planning process and interactively adjusting key parameters in different business processes. The QFD approach is employed to inter-relate different business processes and detect key problems through Internet technique application, so that the global solution can be heuristically improved. The planning method imitates the real-world supply chain planning environment and provides a mechanism for decision-makers to communicate with quantitative information in planning processes through the Web system. An illustrative case study in packaging industry is conducted to describe the planning procedure. The result of the example shows prospect of the method in improving supply chain cooperation. The approach is expected to facilitate supply chain planning and support managers to solve targeted problems more efficiently.     

Novel batch reactor design for the adsorption of arsenate on chitosan

BACKGROUND: The sorption of arsenate, a poison of acute toxicity found in natural waters, onto chitosan, a biosorbent derived from waste seafood shells has been studied. A batch adsorber design model was developed to determine how much chitosan adsorbent is required to reduce the arsenate concentration in solutions to the WHO standard of 10 µg L^?1. RESULTS: A series of batch kinetic experiments has been carried out at different initial pH values. The initial arsenate sorption appears to be completed after 30 min, however, a steady reversible reaction takes place resulting in the desorption of arsenate over 48 h. These phenomena in the batch kinetic data have been correlated simultaneously using the newly developed pseudo‐first order reversible model. Two batch reactor design models have been developed and compared. The first model is a conventional approach based on the equilibrium isotherm capacity equation. A second batch adsorption reactor design is based on the principle of contacting time required, t_max, for the chitosan to achieve its maximum adsorption capacity, q_max. The practical outcome from the second batch adsorber model results in a saving in adsorbent mass per batch of approximately 39.4%, 96.2% and 92.3% chitosan adsorbent at pH conditions of 3.5, 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: The adsorbent cost and handling costs are reduced in the second batch adsorber model. There is also a significant savings in the batch turnaround time required in the batch adsorber design when the design is based on the maximum adsorption capacity rather than the equilibrium adsorption capacity. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Equilibrium studies during the removal of dyestuffs from aqueous solutions using Bagasse pith

The adsorption of four dyestuffs, namely, Basic Blue 69 (BB69), Basic Red 22 (BR22), Acid Red 114 (AR114) and Acid Blue 25 (AB25), onto bagasse pith has been studied. Bagasse pith is a cheap, abundant waste product from the sugar industry in Egypt and was found to have the following monolayer equilibrium saturation capacities: 158, 77, 23 and 22 mg dye g⁻¹ pith.

The effects of pith particle size range and dye solution temperature were studied. The equilibrium data were analysed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Jossens isotherms.     

Composition of petroleum heavy ends 1. Separation of petroleum >675 °C residues

Residues from four crude oils have been separated into fractions of acids, bases, neutral nitrogen compounds, saturate hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The separation scheme is a modification of a separation scheme originally developed for high-boiling petroleum distillates. The gross compositions of the four residues are compared.     

Viscoelastic properties of a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer and its blends with polyisoprene homopolymer and styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer

The effects of added polyisoprene homopolymer (PI) and polyisoprene-blockstyrene diblock copolymer (SI) on the viscoelastic properties of a polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SIS) having a spherical domain morphology have been examined. The former two species are used to model the effects of imperfections in structures that result from triblock copolymers missing, respectively, two or one polystyrene end blocks. The results indicate that the loss modulus and tangent delta in the plateau region can be dominated by imperfections in the copolymer structure. The interpretation of viscoelastic data in the rubbery plateau region as an indication of interface structure in block copolymers is therefore greatly complicated. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheological tests were also used to determine the order-disorder transition temperature for an SIS triblock copolymer and its blend with an SI diblock. The SAXS data are consistent with Han's rheological criteria for determining the order-disorder transition temperature. However, the complex viscosity does exhibit Newtonian behavior for low rates at the highest temperatures, even though the domain morphology persists. Stress relaxation and dynamic modulus data at high temperatures clearly show a secondary “rubbery” plateau at long times, and we offer a qualitative explanation for this feature based on a proposed relaxation mechanism.     

Long‐term (37 years) impacts of low‐head dams on freshwater shrimp habitat connectivity in northeastern Puerto Rico

Freshwater migratory shrimp in Puerto Rico depend on watershed connectivity, from stream headwaters to the ocean, to complete their life cycle. Moreover, shrimp populations in different watersheds are known to be connected in an island‐wide metapopulation. However, low‐head dams paired with water intakes on streams draining the El Yunque National Forest (EYNF) reduce streamflow. Here, we examine the cumulative effects of low‐head dams on shrimp habitat connectivity over 37 years across seven EYNF watersheds. We calculate total and refugia habitat connectivity (where refugia habitat is defined as predator‐free upstream reaches above waterfalls >5 m in height) at a monthly time step using a habitat‐weighted index of longitudinal riverine connectivity, which incorporates location and operation of water intakes and streamflow variability. Findings indicate total and refugia habitat connectivity declined over 37 years (by 27% and 16%, respectively) as additional water intakes have been placed in lower reaches of watersheds. On a monthly time step, the proportion of streamflow withdrawn has the largest effect on habitat connectivity, with the result that connectivity is ~17% lower during drought years than in nondrought years and ~7% lower in dry compared with wet seasons. Our analysis of this long‐term dataset highlights how cumulative effects of low‐head dams paired with water intakes have reduced shrimp habitat connectivity. These results underscore the importance of reducing existing withdrawal rates in EYNF, and locating intakes where effects on connectivity are minimal, if conserving shrimp habitat is a management objective.     

Digital enterprise technology in production networks

Enterprises organised as distributed production networks face challenges related to the planning and synchronisation of their manufacturing operations, and of controlling the quality, cost and production time of products under development. Digital enterprise technology (DET) is a framework for new technologies which can shorten product development and realisation, by estimating and therefore controlling quality, cost and delivery factors for products at an early stage in their lifecycle. DET can also be deployed to facilitate planning and synchronisation of work across an extended enterprise. Particularly for high value and high complexity products, these techniques represent an emergent synthesis of strategies for design, manufacture and product lifecycle management.