New substrates of papain, based on the conserved sequence of natural inhibitors of the cystatin family

A discontinuous borate/formate buffer system is presented for horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments. The resolution potential of the system could be altered by changing the total monomer concentration (5-9%T), the concentration of the crosslinker piperazine diacrylamide (2-5%CPDA), as well as the concentration of formate in the gel (40-120 mM), the leading ion of the buffer system. The separation of DNA fragments would be improved by increasing the migration distance from 22 to 28 cm. This discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system proved highly reproducible.     

Detection of Discordant Content Uniformity Observations and Compendial Compliance

A discordant observation is a data point whose value is drastically different from that of the rest of the members in the data set. In the context of content uniformity experiments, however, a discordant observation arises in two ways: (i) when the value of an observation is markedly distant from that of the other data points even though it is within the required compendial range, and (ii) when the value of an observation is outside the permissible compendial range. Several statistical tests for detecting one or more discordant observations are presented. Since discordancy distorts the symmetricity of the data, several tests of symmetricity are provided. Tests for detection of group discordancy induced by discordant samples are also included. The compendial requirements are explained in statistical terms. The impact of discordant observations on compendial compliance requirements is assessed. The statistical basis of the construction of compendial limits as well as the assumptions implicit in the construction is elaborated. The results of the statistical analysis of three content uniformity studies are appropriately interpreted.     

A single-chip 12.7 Mchips/s digital IF BPSK direct sequencespread-spectrum transceiver in 1.2 μm CMOS

This paper describes a fully integrated digital-spread spectrum transceiver chip fabricated through MOSIS in 1.2 μm CMOS. It includes a baseband spread spectrum transmitter and a coherent intermediate frequency (IF) receiver consisting of a Costas loop, an acquisition loop for the pseudo-noise (PN) sequence, and a clock recovery loop with a 406.4 MHz onchip numerically controlled oscillator (NCO). The transceiver is capable of operating at a maximum IF sampling rate of 50.8 MS/s and a maximum chip rate of 12.7 R Mchips/s (Mcps) with selectable data rates of 100, 200, 400, and 800 kbps. At the maximum operating speed of 50.8 R MS/s, it dissipates 1.1 W. In an additive white Gaussian noise channel the IF receiver achieves a receiver output SNR within 1 dB of theory and can acquire code with a wide range of input SNR from -17 dB to over 30 dB. The transceiver chip has been interfaced to an RF up/down converter to demonstrate a wireless voice/data/video link operating in the 902-928 MHz band     

Analysis of integrated optical waveguide mirrors

A new method is presented to analyze reflection losses of integrated mirrors, taking into account the exact guided mode profile and assuming that this profile remains unchanged up to the reflecting plane. The fraction of the reflected light coupled to one of the guided modes of the output waveguide is calculated, taking into account the mirror reflection coefficient. The influence of both translation and tilt of the reflecting plane is investigated. The method applies for every guided mode and any reflection angles. Numerical calculations are derived for a 90° optical corner mirror     

Intracavitary afterloading therapy as a new technique of boost irradiation in anal canal carcinoma

PURPOSE: There are different techniques of boost irradiation in the treatment of patients with anal carcinoma. A new system of applicators is presented, which can be used for an intracavitary afterloading therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three different applicators are available, the first with a central catheter (K1), a second with 5 semicircular fixed catheters (K2) and an eccentric shield, a third with 8 circular fixed catheters and a central shield (K3). RESULTS: The adequate choice of applicator and catheters takes into consideration the individual localisation and extension of anal carcinoma in planning therapy. Thus, in circular growing tumors, an irradiation of the whole circumference of the anal canal is possible. In non-circular growing tumors, the dose applied in the non-affected part of the anal canal can be reduced to a quarter of the dose applied at the tumor. CONCLUSION: The new system of intracavitary afterloading therapy is a good alternative to previous techniques of boost irradiation in the treatment of anal carcinoma. By means of this technique, irradiation can be highly individualized, the tumor better included and non-affected sections of the anal canal saved.     

NMR IMAGING, CALORIMETRIC, and MATHEMATICAL MODELING STUDIES of FOOD FREEZING

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), calorimetry, and temperature measurements were used to monitor cylindrical potato sections frozen at -11C and -42C. MRI showed the advance of the nonsymmetric freezing zone and loss of signal intensity as liquid water turned to ice. Differential calorimetry was used to follow heat removal during transient freezing. Measured times to 95% enthalpy change were 24 min (-42C) and 49 min (-11C), as compared to modeled values of 29 min (-42C) and 100 min (-11C). Times to 95% change in the NMR signal, integrated over the area of the image, were 21 min (-42C) and 56 min (-11C). Changes in NMR signal intensity could be correlated with the amount of unfrozen water remaining after a steady-state had been reached. At -42C, NMR indicated 25% unfrozen water remaining as compared to 26% by calorimetry, and 22% by modeling. At -11C, NMR measured 67% unfrozen water remaining as compared to 48% by calorimetry, and 25% by equilibrium modeling.     

SHELF-LIFE MODELING OF SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK BASED ON KINETICS OF MAILLARD BROWNING

Nonenzymatic browning and related changes were monitored in commercial sweetened condensed milk stored at 7, 15, 30, 45 and 55C. Darkening of the color measured in terms of absorbance (100 - reflectance percent) followed zero-order kinetics, the apparent activation energy (E_a) being 45.2 kJ/mol at 7–30C and 139.9 kJ/mol at > 30–55C. Hydroxy-methyl-furfural (HMF) showed a first-order increase, the associated E_a values being smaller than those for absorbance. The pH exhibited a linear decline after a small initial rise at 30C and below. As browning progressed, the coffee whitening ability of the product decreased along zero-order kinetics. The Q₁₀ values for these variables ranged from 1.21 to 1.84 for temperatures up to 30C and were nearly 2–3 times higher above 30C. The sensory color score was negatively correlated with absorbance. The linear regression of color score on absorbance and the temperature dependence of the latter as expressed by Arrhenius relationship were combined into a mathematical model which could be useful in predicting the product's shelf-life.     

Experimental determination of thermal conductivity of apple and potato at different moisture contents

Thermal conductivity of apple and potato samples was measured by means of a specifically designed apparatus based on Fitch's method. The thermal conductivity was determined at various moisture contents at the sample mean temperature of 30 °C. As expected the conductivity decreases with the decrease in moisture content. Thermal conductivity data were correlated with moisture content using a straight line.