The bisphosphonate ibandronate, given daily as well as discontinuously, decreases bone resorption and increases calcium retention as assessed by 45Ca kinetics in the intact rat

Endemic in regions with poor hygienic conditions, Enteric fevers are imported in France by returning travellers. They are caused by Salmonella strains, mainly S. Typhi, transmitted via fecal-oral route. Salmonella reach the blood stream after proliferating in mesenteric lymph nodes. At an initial stage blood and bone marrow cultures, later on Widal-Felix serology permit diagnosis. Antibiotics have rendered death exceptional. Quinolones and ceftriaxone allow treatments shorter than 10 days. Immunization (Typhim Vi) and improvement of hygienic standards are the cornerstone of prevention.     

Energieinformatik

Due to the increasing importance of producing and consuming energy more sustainably, Energy Informatics (EI) has evolved into a thriving research area within the CS/IS community. The article attempts to characterize this young and highly dynamic field of research by describing current EI research topics and methods and provides an outlook of how the field might evolve in the future. It is shown that two general research questions have received the most attention so far and are likely to dominate the EI research agenda in the coming years: How to leverage information and communication technology (ICT) to (1) improve energy efficiency, and (2) to integrate decentralized renewable energy sources into the power grid. Selected EI streams are reviewed, highlighting how the respective research questions are broken down into specific research projects and how EI researchers have made contributions based on their individual academic background.     

Understanding the value of integrated RFID systems: a case study from apparel retail

This contribution is concerned with the business value of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in retail. We present a case study of an RFID project at Galeria Kaufhof, a subsidiary of Metro Group and one of the largest department store chains in Europe. The project encompasses a variety of RFID applications at the intersection of store logistics and customer service. The contribution that our study makes to the literature is threefold. First, we describe an innovative large-scale trial that goes beyond what was done in earlier projects in several respects. The most fundamental difference from previous trials is the full integration of RFID event data with point-of-sale (POS) and master data, which for the first time offers the retailer the opportunity to directly observe and analyse physical in-store processes. Second, the heterogeneity of RFID applications implemented by Kaufhof allows us to theorise about the effects that RFID may have on business processes from an IT value perspective. We develop a conceptual model to explain the different cause-and-effect chains between RFID investments and their impact on firm performance, the role of complementary and contextual factors, and the difficulty of assessing these impacts using objective performance measures. Third, we compare the case to a prior trial conducted by Kaufhof about 5 years earlier. The differences between the lessons that the company learned in the two projects illustrate the impact of technological advances and standardisation efforts in recent years on managerial perceptions of RFID business value, which allows for the derivation of a number of useful implications for practice.     

Analysis of crops and soils for residues of chlorfenvinphos insecticide and its breakdown products

Field crops treated with chlorfenvinphos insecticide have been analysed for residues of the parent compound and for possible residues of its breakdown products, 1-(2′,4′-dichlorophenyl)ethan-1-ol (II), 2,4-dichloroacetophenone (III), 2,4-dichlorophenacyl chloride (VIII) and conjugates of (II). Residues of (II) and (III) did not exceed 0.2 ppm in soils within six months of application of chlorfenvinphos at up to 8 lb/ac. Residues of (VIII) could not be detected in any of these soils, and the limit of detectability was 0.02-0.04 ppm. Crops that were grown in soils treated with up to 4 kg/ha (? to 3.6 Ib/ac) of chlorfenvinphos contained detectable residues of chlorfenvinphos (<0.01-0.95 ppm) at harvest, and the highest residues were found in radishes. However, residues of the possible breakdown products (II), (III) and (VIII) could not be detected in any of these crops, and the limit of detectability was 0.01-0.05 ppm. When chlorfenvinphos was applied to the foliage of potatoes there was some evidence for conversion of the trans (β) isomer to the cis (a) isomer. Both isomers were degraded rapidly and the initial half-life of chlorfenvinphos (cis + trans) was about 3 days. Residues of chlorfenvinphos and the breakdown products (II, free and conjugated), (III) and (VIII) could not be detected on potato foliage, potato tubers, or maize grain 13-98 days after foliar application of chlorfenvinphos at up to 1 kg/ha on potatoes and up to 2 kg/ha on maize. The limits of detectability were 0.005-0.05 ppm.     

Genomic characterization of the Neurofibromatosis Type 1 gene of Fugu rubripes

The genomic structure of the Neurofibromatosis Type1 (NF1) gene of Fugu rubripes was investigated by sequence analysis of two overlapping cosmids. The Fugu NF1 gene spans 27 kb and is 13 times smaller than the human counterpart owing primarily to reduced intron size. The predicted amino acid sequence is highly related to that of human neurofibromin, exhibiting an overall similarity of 91.5%. Nearly all exons described for the human NF1 gene could be identified, except exon 12b and the alternatively spliced exons 9br and 48a. With the exception of the splice acceptor site in front of exon 16, all splice sites are in identical positions to those found in the human gene. Intron 1, which is 100-140 kb long in humans, spans 2575 bp in the Fugu NF1 gene. Another large intron of the human NF1 gene, intron 27b (45-50 kb), is 3942 bp of size in Fugu. Sequences related to the OMgp gene (Oligodendrocyte-Myelin-glycoprotein) or the EVI2A gene (ecotropic viral integration site), which are inserted into human NF1 intron 27b, were not detected in the corresponding Fugu intron. However, a single exon gene with similarity to the human EVI2B gene has been found on the reverse strand of Fugu intron 27b. This suggests that the human EVI2B gene and the Fugu gene in intron 27b have a common ancestor. We found the expression of this inserted gene in liver and kidney, but not in brain tissue of Fugu rubripes.     

Analysis of crops and soils for residues of 2,6=dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil) and 2,6=dichlorothiobenzamide (chlorthiamid). II.—Results

Crops and soils from a large number of field trials have been analysed for residues of 2,6dichlorothiobenzamide (chlorthiamid) and for residues of 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil). The thiobenzamide is converted to the benzonitrile after application to the soil and only a small percentage of the material applied initially remains unchanged after 4 weeks. However, both the benzonitrile and the thiobenzamide are of similar low mammalian toxicity. The initial half-life of the ‘total nitrile’ residues (the thiobenzarnide + the benzonitrile) is, on average, near 4 weeks but varies from 1 to 12 weeks depending on the locality, soil type, climate, dosage level and formulation. The penetration of the herbicide into soils of different types is considered and it is shown that in sand, loam, and clay, residues in the 4–12 in. layer are less than 10% of the residue at the same time in the 0–4 in. layer. Residues of the thiobenzamide and the benzonitrile could not be detected in a very wide range of crops (other than rice) harvested at 2–6 months after soil applications of the thiobenzamide at 1–16 lb/acre. In rice grains, where the plants can be in intimate contact with the herbicide, the ‘total nitrile’ residues did not exceed 0·05 ppm.     

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over freshly reduced iron-ruthenium alloys

Surface analysis of unsupported FeRu alloys was accomplished using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) after the catalysts were reduced in flowing H₂ at 673 K for 4 h in a pretreatment chamber and introduced directly into the UHV instrument without exposure to the air. XPS lines show Fe and Ru to be metallic after reduction. Quantitative analysis of the first several layers using XPS shows enrichment of the surface region in Fe as expected. Analysis of the secondary ion emission as a function of composition shows a marked decrease in the Ru⁺ emission from 97Ru3Fe compared to the pure Ru catalyst, suggesting alteration of the electronic properties of the surface upon addition of a small amount of Fe. Semiquantitative analysis of the uppermost layer using SIMS suggests greater Fe enrichment in the first layer than the average enrichment calculated from XPS for the first several layers. The initial activity and selectivity of the catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were measured at 1 atm and 573 K in 3.3H₂ + CO at conversions below 3%. Selectivity to methane decreases through a minimum with increasing Fe content in the first layer. High propylene and ethylene yields were found for the alloy catalysts. A marked increase in the selectivity of the catalysts to propylene and, particularly, ethylene for 3Fe97Ru compared to pure Ru correlates with the sharp changes in SIMS yields.     

The impact of false-negative reads on the performance of RFID-based shelf inventory control policies

Effective retail in-store logistics are paramount to provide high product availability at minimal operating costs. Despite various efforts by retailers to lower out-of-stock rates on retail shelves, product availability remains insufficient thereby significantly degrading a store's performance. Currently, retailers consider the introduction of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to improve the efficiency of replenishment processes in stores. However, the possibilities of RFID are ultimately limited by the physical characteristics of RF communications. Tag detuning and the absorption of radio waves by the tag's environment may lead to so-called ‘false-negative' reads, i.e., RFID tags in range being undetected by the reader device. Retailers ignoring the impact of false-negatives on the performance of RFID-based inventory control systems run the risk of overestimating the benefits to be expected from RFID. We develop an inventory control policy based on shelf stock information generated by RFID, which specifically accounts for inaccuracies associated with false-negative reads. The mathematical model is optimized for operating costs and compared to a basic periodic review strategy in a numerical study. The results indicate that the impact of false-negatives on cost remains modest for medium to high read rates. However, the system performance is sensitive to a number of exogenous parameters that must be considered when evaluating the practical use of RFID.     

PowerPedia: changing energy usage with the help of a community-based smartphone application

When it comes to conserving electricity, it is crucial for users to know how much energy is consumed by individual appliances. However, the technical feedback provided by existing energy consumption feedback systems in the form of dry numbers and intangible units is not appropriate for most users. To address this shortcoming, we developed PowerPedia, a system that provides behavior-influencing feedback over and above pure consumption values. By integrating a community platform—a Wikipedia for electrical appliances—PowerPedia enables users to identify and compare the consumption of their domestic appliances with that of others. It thus helps users to better understand their electricity consumption and take effective action to save electricity.     

In‐situ‐Sauerstoffmesszellen für den Einsatz im Vakuum. In‐situ oxygen sensors for the use in vacuum

The use of galvanic cells with oxide‐ion‐conducting solid electrolytes as sensors in vacuum allows to measure directly the oxygen partial pressure deciding for redox processes at the surface of workpieces during heat treatments. The oxygen exists either as a free molecular gaseous component or in the thermodynamic equilibrium with other gases. The bases of the known gas potentiometry are valid also in vacuum. Reducing gases are indicated in redoxquotients as Q_H = p(H₂O)/p(H₂). For the technique of measurements with solid electrolytes in vacuum special requirements arise. Probes with air reference electrode are already offered commercially. A solid reference electrode formed with Cu and Cu₂O was tested now in the range of pressure from 1 to 10^‐7 bar. It is usable at sensor temperatures between 400 and 650 centigrades. Important disturbances by oxygen permeability of the solid electrolyte were not observed in this temperature range. Changes of the composition of rest gases in vacuum, often arising as a result of wall reactions are indicated by alterations of p(O₂) or Q_H respectively. The accuracy of measurements is improved by consideration of temperature differences between the electrodes.