Langmuir films from antibodies based on amphiphilic polyelectrolytes

A technique for forming Langmuir films from antibodies based on an amphiphilic polyelectrolyte was developed. The physicochemical and immunochemical properties of the Langmuir films obtained were studied. The interaction of HBsAg with the films was found to be described by a model with one binding site, whereas that of HBsAg with antibodies adsorbed on a polystyrene plate, by a model with a positive cooperativity. The use of the novel Langmuir films from antibodies increases the sensitivity of the immunoenzyme assay.     

Dynamic Policy-Based Network Management for a Secure Coalition Environment

This article reports the latest results of an R&D effort to develop a prototype implementation of a dynamic policy-based network management (PBNM) system that can be used to configure and manage a secure network for a coalition environment across an unsecured wide area network. The prototype, based on a distributed architecture, includes capabilities for policy creation and management, dynamic policy negotiation, and dynamic policy provisioning. The policy negotiation facilitates the rapid deployment of a coalition network while the dynamic policy provisioning automates the configuration and management of network services including firewalls, virtual private network connections, routing, quality of service (QoS), and domain name services. Such a PBNM system enhances an organization's ability to react to network incidents identified by a network situational awareness assessment. Although the focus of the current research is a military coalition environment, the system can be used in any distributed enterprise or collaborative environment     

Performance degradation in feedback control due to constraints

In this note, we present a method to characterize the degradation in performance that arises in linear systems due to constraints imposed on the magnitude of the control signal to avoid saturation effects. We do this in the context of cheap control for tracking step signals.     

Optimization of semiochemical-based trapping ofMetamasius hemipterus sericeus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Response of adults of the West Indian sugarcane weevil,Metamasius hemipterus sericeus, to various semiochemical treatments and physical trap designs was studied in southern Florida in field-grown banana and Canary Island date palms. Ethyl acetate released alone at 860–1007 mg/day was as effective for the capture ofM. h. sericeus as a combination of ethyl acetate (844–919 mg/day), ethyl propionate (348–362 mg/day), and ethyl butyrate (117–137 mg/day) and in one trial was more effective than fermenting sugarcane (250 g), ethyl propionate alone (353–384 mg/day), ethyl butyrate alone (123–174 mg/day), or no treatment. Ethyl acetate released alone at 675–683 mg/day was as attractive as 250 g of fermenting sugarcane or the racemic blend of the male-produced aggregation pheromones [(±)-5-methyl-nonan-4-ol and (±)-2-methyl-heptan-4-ol (8:1 ratio) “metalure”] at 3 mg/day. Weevil counts increased with binary combinations of ethyl acetate, sugarcane, and/or metalure over these treatments alone and the ternary combination was two to three times more effective than any of the binary treatments. Attraction to ethyl acetate released alone at 777 mg/day with metalure was greater than to the hydrolysis products of ethyl acetate (ethanol and/or acetic acid each released at about 6–8 mg/day) with metalure. Weevil counts from traps baited with 250 g of sugarcane and metalure increased with increasing dose of ethyl acetate to about 400 mg/day and then appeared to plateau. Ethyl acetate (about 700 mg/day) and metalure increased weevil counts in traps with increasing amounts of sugarcane (0–2 kg). Molasses (45 g) + water (158 ml) substitutes for sugarcane were about as effective for capturingM. h. sericeus as 250 g of fermenting sugarcane [all treatments with ethyl acetate (847 mg/day) and metalure]. Early experiments used a lethal pitfall trap. We demonstrated that several alternative trap designs were more effective than the lethal pitfall trap for capturing weevils. Color and height (on ground vs. 1 m on pole) did not affect trap efficacy when baited with the ternary combination of ethyl acetate (672–825 mg/day), sugarcane (250 g), and metalure.     

Sleep problems of junior high school students in Taipei

The objective of this work was to study the relationship between daily sleep time and characteristics of students, e.g. grade level, gender, and academic program. A sleep habit questionnaire was designed to survey students at two junior high schools, one from northern Taipei and the other from southern Taipei. The impact of shortened duration of sleep on daily function was also evaluated. A total of 965 students and their parents were selected randomly in December 1993 for the questionnaire study. The response rate was 96.4% (930) for students and 88.6% (855) for parents. The self-reported daily sleep time of students declined, and daytime sleepiness and moodiness increased in the higher grades. The girls slept fewer hours than the boys and did not show an increase in daytime sleepiness. Those students not taking the senior high school joint entrance examination slept more hours at night and maintained more alertness in the daytime than those who were taking the examination. The more academic pressures that adolescents faced, the fewer hours they slept. Students not participating in the joint entrance examination seemed to show a healthier sleep pattern. Little sleep at night made the students feel sleepy in the daytime and tired, drowsy, moody and difficult at arising in the morning. The reason why girls slept less than boys needs further investigation.     

Modelling and Simulation of a Direct Contact Rotary Dryer

A mathematical model able to predict solid and drying gas temperature and moisture content axial profiles along a direct contact rotary dryer was developed. The study was focused on the drying kinetics based on phenomenological models. Two different drying mechanisms in the decreasing drying rate period were tested: proponional to the unbound moisture content and moisture diffusion inside the particle. Experimental data collected in a pilot-scale direct contact rotary dryer was used to validate the model. Soya and fish meals were used as drying material.     

Rorschach cognitive developmental indices of mentally retarded persons: a comparison with scores on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children-revised

The complete mechanism by which pathogenic mtDNA mutations cause cellular pathophysiology and in some cases cell death is unclear. Oxidant stress is especially toxic to excitable nerve and muscle cells, cells that are often affected in mitochondrial disease. The sensitivity of cells bearing the LHON, MELAS, and MERRF mutations to oxidant stress was determined. All were significantly more sensitive to H2O2 exposure than their nonmutant cybrid controls, the order of sensitivity was MELAS > LHON > MERRF > controls. Depletion of Ca2+ from the medium protected all cell lines from oxidant stress, consistent with the hypothesis that death induced by oxidant stress is Ca(2+)-dependent. A potential downstream target of Ca2+ is the mitochondrial permeability transition, MPT, which is inhibited by cyclosporin A. Treatment of MELAS, LHON, and MERRF cells with cyclosporin A caused significant rescue from oxidant exposure, and in each case significantly greater rescue of mutant than control cells. The pronounced oxidant-sensitivity of mutant cells, and their protection by Ca2+ depletion and CsA, has potential implications for both the pathophysiological mechanism and therapy of these mitochondrial genetic diseases.     

Salmonella meningitis: clinical experience of third-generation cephalosporins

Fifteen paediatric patients with Salmonella meningitis were retrospectively reviewed. Presenting symptoms and signs included fever, vomiting, seizures, poor activity, diarrhoea and bulging anterior fontanelle in most patients. Seven out of eight patients with prolonged fever for > 10 days had neurologic sequelae; therefore, prolonged fever is a significant prognostic factor of a poor outcome (p < 0.005). All 15 patients had a brain ultrasound or computed tomography in the acute stage and 11 patients had abnormal findings. The 14 surviving patients were treated with a third-generation cephalosporin for at least 3 weeks. Seven patients (47%) made complete recoveries; two of them were treated solely with a third-generation cephalosporin. Only one mortality (6%) occurred and there were no relapses. In conclusion, high frequencies of prolonged fever, neuroimaging abnormalities and neurologic sequelae were seen in patients with Salmonella meningitis treated with third-generation cephalosporins.