Developing a RAD standard

The UK's Dynamic Systems Development Method Consortium has identified the special characteristics of RAD (rapid application development) projects and published a first version of a development standard. The three critical success factors are: easy access to end users, a stable and skilled development team, and a commercial application     

Future of Ironmaking

It has been predicted that production rates as high as 4000 tpd of hot metal will be achieved by some blast furnaces by 1972. Based on data from the 10 blast furnaces in the United States that are topmost in production, the operating improvements necessary to attain this goal are discussed in detail. The more important improvements include:increase in hot-blast temperature, incorporation of more flux in the agglomerates, greater uniformity in the chemistry and size-consist of coke and iron-bearing materials, increase in top pressure, and oxygen enrichment of the blast. In addition, such factors as furnace and casthouse size and charging operations are discussed in relation to achieving the goal.     

The use of the Zebris motion analysis system for measuring cervical spine movements in vivo

The cervical spine exhibits the greatest range of motion among the spinal segments due to the complex interaction of its triplanar components of movement. As a result, measurement of movements of the cervical spine and of the various orthoses used in cervical spine injuries has proved difficult with no one method proving satisfactory. This paper uses the Zebris ultrasonic three-dimensional motion analysis system to measure flexion, extension, range of lateral bending, and range of axial rotation in five similar male and five similar female subjects with no history of neck injuries. The subjects were tested unrestrained and in soft and hard collars, as well as in Philadelphia, Miami J, and Minerva orthoses. Results show that the Minerva is the most stable construct for restriction of movement in all planes in both groups. Looking at these results allows ranking of the measured orthoses in order of their three-dimensional stability. Furthermore, by presenting reproducible data incorporating the composite triplanar movements of the cervical spine, thus allowing comparative analysis of the studied orthoses, they propose the Zebris as a reliable, repeatable, and safe method of measurement of cervical spine motion with low intersubject variability.     

Hypersensitivity responses and contact lens wear.

Hypersensitivity diseases that involve the eye are common reasons why patients present to eyecare practitioners. Common ocular hypersensitivity disorders include allergic conjunctivitis, giant or contact lens induced papillary conjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. The diagnosis and management of ocular hypersensitivity can present a challenge to eyecare practitioners and an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the signs and symptoms of such conditions is necessary for their appropriate management. This article reviews the mechanisms by which the eye responds to antigenic challenges, the pathogenesis of ocular hypersensitivity responses, particularly in relation to contact lens wear, and illustrates possible management strategies.     

Digital predistortion linearizes wireless power amplifiers

When compared to other linearization methods, adaptive DP provides sufficient linearization with less complex RF hardware by depending primarily upon DSP rather than analog manipulation. The adaptive DP system may be implemented in EDA software along with interconnected test equipment (arbitrary RF signal source and vector signal analyzer). Through the use of a training signal, a simple adaptive algorithm may be employed to update the LUT coefficients until an optimum setting is achieved and used to predistort the input to the amplifier. This "connected solution" approach can provide key information to design engineers for optimizing the DSP architecture of a PA. For future work, other issues are taken into account, such as temperature and electrical memory effects.     

Synthesis and in Silico Modelling of the Potential Dual Mechanistic Activity of Small Cationic Peptides Potentiating the Antibiotic Novobiocin against Susceptible and Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli

Cationic antimicrobial peptides have attracted interest, both as antimicrobial agents and for their ability to increase cell permeability to potentiate other antibiotics. However, toxicity to mammalian cells and complexity have hindered development for clinical use. We present the design and synthesis of very short cationic peptides (3–9 residues) with potential dual bacterial membrane permeation and efflux pump inhibition functionality. Peptides were designed based upon in silico similarity to known active peptides and efflux pump inhibitors. A number of these peptides potentiate the activity of the antibiotic novobiocin against susceptible Escherichia coli and restore antibiotic activity against a multi-drug resistant E. coli strain, despite having minimal or no intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Molecular modelling studies, via docking studies and short molecular dynamics simulations, indicate two potential mechanisms of potentiating activity; increasing antibiotic cell permeation via complexation with novobiocin to enable self-promoted uptake, and binding the E. coli RND efflux pump. These peptides demonstrate potential for restoring the activity of hydrophobic drugs.