In Vitro antimicrobial susceptibilities of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from two teaching hospitals in Taiwan, 1989-1995

The susceptibility of 46 pneumococcal isolates collected during October 1989 to May 1995 from National Taiwan University Hospital and Taipei Municipal Yang Ming Hospital was studied. Among these isolates, the resistant rate of penicillin G was 21.7%; the penicillin G-resistant strains were more frequently resistant than the penicillin-sensitive strains to other beta-lactam antimicrobial drugs. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of penicillin G for all isolates were equal to, or one dilution higher than, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Three strains were false positive for penicillin resistance among isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae screened with oxacillin. On the other hand, resistance to penicillin G was often independent of resistance to erythromycin. Vancomycin was the most active agent tested.     

A polyampholyte triblock copolymer synthesized for using as the surfactant of miniemulsion polymerization and production of highly uniform microspheres

Miniemulsions based on styrene/azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in the presence of polyampholyte triblock copolymers as a surfactant and hexadecane (HD) as a cosurfactant were developed. The polyampholyte was prepared by using methyl methacrylate (MMA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and 2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as monomers. For the sake of comparison, a miniemulsion polymerization with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was carried out using the same procedure as the above series. The monomer droplet sizes and their shelf life tests revealed that the polyampholyte could stabilize miniemulsion and lead nucleation mechanisms to droplet nucleation. Miniemulsion polymerization using SDS as the surfactant possess a higher polymerization rate than that of polyampholyte, probably due to the smaller droplet size. Production of uniform microspheres was also carried out in this work. Highly uniform microspheres prepared using polyampholyte as the surfactant in the presence of acetone could be obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2230–2237, 2003     

Ku-band subsampling track-and-hold amplifier with 8 ENOB resolution

A wideband subsampling track-and-hold amplifier has been designed for input frequencies up to Ku-band and clock rates up to 2.5 GS/s. Circuits were fabricated in 1 /spl mu/m InP SHBT technology. Spur-free dynamic range measured with two-tone input frequencies of 12.6 and 12.602 GHz and a 2.5 GS/s clock rate ranges from 53-69 dB at an input level of -1 dBFS for each tone. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) test results show that the master/slave (M/S) track-and-hold design provides 59 dB of SNR in a 1 GHz bandwidth at input frequencies up to at least 2.6 GHz. A single track-and-hold dissipates 1.5 W while the M/S configuration dissipates 2.5 W.     

Function modules demanded for production control in distributed manufacturing system

This paper deals with the function modules demanded for production control in a distributed cellular manufacturing system. Cells are the distributed components of any manufacturing system. A proposed multipassing distributed simulating scheduling system (MPDSSS) deals with the production control functions regarding process planning (working-cell selection), scheduling, rescheduling, and real-time dispatching. The process planning function aims at selecting a good route for each job. The multipassing scheduling aims at providing a scheduling bidding strategy in a distributed fashion. The rescheduling aims at dealing with the large-effort change of the system with updating the precedence schedule to run in a new manufacturing period. The real-time scheduling deals with the small-effort change of the system with a real-time dispatching rule. All the production controlling functions have been implemented in distributed fashions. A simulation experiment demonstrates that the proposed MPDSSS leads to good results in the following criteria: minimum mean flow time, minimum waiting time, maximum machine utilisation, and minimum imbalance of cell utilisation.Nomenclature {A} grouping set ofA _i - A _i function-identical set of celli - BC _i the weighted bidding cost for the operation in celli - {C} performance criteria set - C _i ith element of {C} - CU _{f avg} average cell utilisation inA _f - CU _{f max} maximum cell utilisation inA _f - CU _i average cell utilisation of celli - CU_max maximum CU _i - CU_min minimum CU _i - {D} dispatching rule base - D _i ith rule in {D} - EFT earliest finishing time - EFT_max maximum EFT - ICU _f the imbalance of cell utilisation inA _f - P _m previously actual system performance for criterionC _m - RC _i rescheduling cost when using ruleD _i - SC _i improvement rate for system cost using ruleD _i - SP _a actual system performance - SP _m preceding simulation performance of theC _m with ruleD _i - SP _p ideally predictable system performance - SPD _a actual system performance deviation - TICU _i total imbalance of cell utilisation using ruleD _i - W weighting factor     

Payment versus bid cost [The Business Scene]

This article summarizes the recent developments in the solution methodology of payment-cost minimization and the economic analysis of the two auction methods. Topics such as revenue adequacy implications are brought into discussion. Generally speaking, the research on the appraisal of the two auction methods is still at the early stages, and that a comprehensive study of the two auction methods is highly valuable for both researchers and industrial practitioners. This article can initiate more serious debate among researchers and stakeholders as to which objective should be used in ISO markets.     

Effect of sweetener types on chemical and sensory quality of frozen kiwifruit concentrates

Fresh, mature kiwifruits, not suitable for the fresh market, were used to prepare frozen kiwifruit concentrate. Sucrose, 62 DE corn syrup and high-fructose Cornsweet₅₅ were used either alone or in various combinations on the same dry basis to prepare six sweetener types.The acidity, soluble solids, and ascorbic acid content of the fresh kiwifruit pulp and concentrates are presented. The high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) was used to quantitatively analyse the oligosaccharides present in the concentrates. Colour measurements made with a Hunter colour difference meter indicated that the kiwifruit concentrates differed in colour attributes, depending on the holding temperature. Objective measurements with a Brookfield viscometer indicated that the consistency of the concentrates varied with the sweetener types. The concentrate made with 62 DE corn syrup and sucrose (1:2) was thickest in consistency.Kiwifruit nectars prepared from frozen concentrates sweetened with either sucrose alone or Cornsweet₅₅ alone were preferred by the taste panel to the others.     

Indwelling device-related bacteremia caused by serum-susceptible Campylobacter coli

Two isolates of serum-susceptible Campylobacter coli were recovered in a 7-day interval from blood from a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis whose peritoneal-caval (Denver's) shunt malfunctioned. Identical random amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprints, cellular fatty acid chromatograms, and antibiograms of the two isolates indicate that C. coli has the ability to cause catheter-related bacteremia following its colonization of the catheter.     

Using titanium plate or meshplate for chest wall reconstruction: report of 6 cases and literature review

Titanium plate has been widely used in several surgical fields, such as craniofacial reconstruction and orthopedic prosthesis. This prosthesis has been proved not only with good biocompatibility and mechanical strength, but also with light weight and low radiological interference. From October 1991 to May 1995, 6 patients underwent thoracic cage reconstruction with titanium plate in our hospital. They included 5 females and 1 male, with ages ranging from 26 to 62 years. Four of them suffered from primary chest wall tumors (2 desmoid tumors, a chondrosarcoma, and 1 hemangioma), one had a recurrent chest wall tumor from breast carcinoma, and one had thoracic hypoplasia. The thoracic cage defect ranged from 5 x 6 cm to 10 x 15 cm, and 1 to 3 titanium plates were used for the reconstruction. No paradoxical movement or other prosthesis-related complications have occurred during the follow-up period. We conclude that titanium plate is a good material for thoracic cage reconstruction.     

Structure of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p19Ink4d

In cancer, the biochemical pathways that are dominated by the two tumour-suppressor proteins, p53 and Rb, are the most frequently disrupted. Cyclin D-dependent kinases phosphorylate Rb to control its activity and they are, in turn, specifically inhibited by the Ink4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) which cause arrest at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Mutations in Rb, cyclin D1, its catalytic subunit Cdk4, and the CDKI p16Ink4a, which alter the protein or its level of expression, are all strongly implicated in cancer. This suggests that the Rb 'pathway' is of particular importance. Here we report the structure of the p19Ink4d protein, determined by NMR spectroscopy. The structure indicates that most mutations to the p16Ink4a gene, which result in loss of function, are due to incorrectly folded and/or insoluble proteins. We propose a model for the interaction of Ink4 proteins with D-type cyclin-Cdk4/6 complexes that might provide a basis for the design of therapeutics against cancer. The sequences of the Ink4 family of CDKIs are highly conserved