A formal description of open distributed processing (ODP) trading based on guidelines for the definition of managed objects (GDMO)

New requirements of growing computer networks and information systems have an influence on extended client/server models with increased functionality. This forms the basis for service management in distributed systems which is realized by a service trading concept. This paper studies the requirements derived from the Open Distributed Processing (ODP) Reference Model in order to consider an open service market. Furthermore, it examines management possibilities for describing the service trading scenario. Because of similar architectures and properties ODP services, service offers, types, exporters and traders are mapped onto management components and modeled as managed objects. Therefore, the Guidelines for the Definition of Managed Objects (GDMO) are used. The final concept allows a precise and unambiguous study of the service trading scenario and provides means for exporting and importing of service offers in a distributed environment.     

Specific interactions in blends containing Chitosan and functionalized polymers. Molecular dynamics simulations

Chitosan (CS)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Chitosan/poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P2HEM) blends have been studied through molecular dynamic simulations. In a previous work it was found miscibility between these polymers and it was attributed to hydrogen bonding formation. However, the experimental information obtained was not enough to know which of the interacting groups of Chitosan, i.e. -CH₂OH or -NH₂, are responsible of the interaction. Therefore, we have performed molecular dynamics simulation runs of 1 ns in order to calculate radial distribution functions (RDF) for the groups tentatively involved in the interaction. The results are correlated with our previous experimental data. This way, we have obtained a more precise conclusive information about the interactions involved as function of the blends composition. For low compositions of PVA and P2HEM the interaction is predominantly with the hydroxymethyl groups of CS while as the composition of PVA and P2HEM increases, the interaction with the amine groups increases.     

To treat or not to treat: comparison of different criteria used to determine whether weight loss is to be recommended

Background  

Excess body fat is a major risk factor for disease primarily due to its endocrine activity. In recent years several criteria have been introduced to evaluate this factor. Nevertheless, treatment need is currently assessed only on the basis of an individual's Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated as body weight (in kg) divided by height in m². The aim of our study was to determine whether application of the BMI, compared to adiposity-based criteria, results in underestimation of the number of subjects needing lifestyle intervention.     

High Throughput Primer Walking of cDNA Clones

Primer walking of cloned DNA is a standard research tool. It has been used in the past to determine the sequence of individual clones of interest. With the expansion of DNA sequencing capacity the need to be able to walk larger numbers of clones has become necessary. Our laboratory is a mid-sized genomics facility. In conjunction with the Advanced Biomedical Computing Center (ABCC) we have developed methods for automating the primer selection, DNA sequencing, contig assembly and sequence analysis for clones arrayed in microtiter format. This approach has allowed us to walk 475 clones (five microtiter plates) selected from a cDNA library.     

Efficient procedure for computing fields created by current modes

An efficient method for computing the fields of large scatterers is presented. The current is expanded in terms of modes defined as complex exponential functions. The modes are represented efficiently by means of spline functions. Analytical expressions have been obtained to compute efficiently the fields due to the current modes.     

Improving manufacturing by cost-effective process modeling

Computer-aided engineering tools are routinely used to simulate forging and heat-treatment operations and to perform thermal and stress analyses. This review gives a few examples of the current uses of process modeling tools and outlines some developing capabilities and near-term applications.     

A Simple Experimental Technique to Measure Tortuosity in Packed Beds

In this article, a simple and inexpensive experimental technique easy to build in laboratory, for the measurement of tortuosity of a packed bed of inert particles, is described. Experimental values of the tortuosity were obtained with four different packed beds of sand. The experimental results obtained are in good agreement with the theoretical values of tortuosity in a porous media; and the data reported showed the tortuosity to increase with decrease in the void fraction of the packed bed as expected.     

Genotoxic effect of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) extract on human lymphocytes treated in vitro

Physalis angulata L (Solanaceae) is a medicinal plant from North of Brazil, whose different extracts and infusions are commonly used in the popular medicine for the treatment of malaria, asthma, hepatitis, dermatitis and rheumatism. However, the genotoxic effects of P. angulata on human cells is not well known. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro genotoxic effects of aqueous extract of P. angulata using the comet assay and the micronucleus assay in human lymphocytes provided from 6 healthy donors. Treatments with P. angulata extracts were performed in vitro in order to access the extent of DNA damage. The comet assay has shown that treatments with P. angulata at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 microg/mL in culture medium were genotoxic. Lymphocytes treated with P. angulata at the concentrations of 3.0 and 6.0 microg/mL in culture medium showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronucleus (p<0.05), however, the cytokinesis blocked proliferation index (CBPI) was not decreased after P. angulata treatment. In conclusion, the present work demonstrated the genotoxic effects of P. angulata extract on human lymphocytes in vitro.