The selection of introduced sounds to improve the soundscape in the public spaces

The purpose of introducing sounds is to afford a comfortable acoustic environment and to design good soundscapes. This study aims at rating the preference of subjects for the introduced sounds suitable to the public spaces and also investigates the methodology to select the sounds by subjective and objective procedures. Seventeen kinds of the introduced sounds were evaluated with nine adjectives in the presence of visual location information. Also, adequate sound levels were calculated by adjusting the volume of introduced sounds in the presence of the actual background sounds of locations and visual information. The concept of harmony with the surroundings was reviewed by analyzing the correlation among 9 adjectives which express introduced sounds. And the effectiveness of existed sound quality index was analyzed so as to select the introduced sounds quantitatively. By the evaluation of the adequate level of the introduced sounds, it is proposed that the lower introduced sound level would be better for the noisy circumstances.     

From perceptual supplementation to the accessibility of digital spaces: The case of free exploration of city maps for blind persons

Accessibility of urban and digital spaces is still a challenge for the blind or visually impaired people. Information and communication technologies open new opportunities to design innovative solutions for the sake of accessibility for all. For this concern, the development of perceptual supplementation systems is a promising solution. In the framework of the Tactile interactions for orientation, information and presence (ITOIP) project, we aim at developing the use of the Tactos technology which enables blind users to access digital shapes through the sense of touch. Within this project, we designed new applications for Tactos with the partnership of a blind and visually impaired persons local association. Our research is grounded on sensory motor theories of perception. We illustrate our approach with the case of Tactos map: an application that enables street maps free exploration with no need of sight. During the design of Tactos map, we were confronted with the problem of enabling users to access content beyond the screen viewport. This problem and the proposed solution highlights the dialog between theoretical and design perspectives at the heart of our approach. The performances and remarks from the first Tactos map users let us envision several issues to address in our future work.     

Design principles for active transport systems

We have previously described simple models for active transport and have derived steady state equations for the unidirectional flux of substrate in terms of a minimal set of kinetic parameters. Here we consider how to maximize the pumping rate of a carrier-enzyme through the optimal utilization of the ATP hydrolysis reaction. The equations for net flux contain rate constants and dissociation constants and these determine the maximum velocities and affinities measured in transport kinetic analysis. It is assumed that the rate constants can evolve to the diffusion limited rate of substrate binding as has apparently occurred in the enzyme triosephosphate isomerase (Knowles & Albery, 1977). The dissociation constants of the rate limiting intermediates fit the affinities for substrates on different sides of the membrane and are dependent on the basic free energy levels (Hill, 1976) of the carrier substrate system. From our analysis it is clear that there are three ways to design a system with optimal affinities and that the choice is linked to the sequence of substrate binding. It is possible to use free energy differences of isomerization (Boyer, 1975) or ligand-ligand interactions (Weber, 1975) both of which have been described previously, but which are incorporated here into a unified treatment. A third possibility is to couple the binding step of a transported ligand to the progress of a chemical reaction as might occur, for example, if Na⁺ must be bound before the carrier can be phosphorylated. In this way the free energy of hydrolysis can be used not only to drive the overall pumping reaction, but also to fix differentially the affinity for substrate on either side of the membrane, as required for rapid pumping.     

Design methods for tubular fermentation systems

Methods for the design of tubular fermentation systems are summarized. The first part, on tubular system hydrodynamics, is concerned with the design methods for gas hold-up, pressure drop, drop-size distribution and actual interfacial area, and with non-ideal flow conditions. This being a critical review, only the more important methods have been selected. More recent design methods for the prediction of oxygen transfer coefficients in fermentation systems and methods of determining of true kinetic relations are also reviewed, accounting for the inevitable non-ideality of flow. General rules for system optimization are presented.     

Design of multidye systems for FRET-based applications

A new solid phase approach, based on orthogonal protective group strategy utilizing Fmoc and DMTr groups, was used to assemble linear polymeric chains with pending groups at desired locations. A compound synthesized using four different fluorophores with consequently overlapping absorption and emission spectra (pyrene, perylene, fluorescein and TAMRA) was shown to fluoresce at 570 nm when excited at 330 nm, demonstrating sequential energy transfer across four chromophores.     

Self-organization leads to supraoptimal performance in public transportation systems

The performance of public transportation systems affects a large part of the population. Current theory assumes that passengers are served optimally when vehicles arrive at stations with regular intervals. In this paper, it is shown that self-organization can improve the performance of public transportation systems beyond the theoretical optimum by responding adaptively to local conditions. This is possible because of a "slower-is-faster" effect, where passengers wait more time at stations but total travel times are reduced. The proposed self-organizing method uses "antipheromones" to regulate headways, which are inspired by the stigmergy (communication via environment) of some ant colonies.     

A note on the use of the non-central t-distribution in setting numerical microbiological specifications for foods

O rdonez , J.A. S anz , B. H ernandez , P.E. L opez -L orenzo , P 1984, A note on the effect of combined ultrasonic and heat treatments on the survival of thermoduric streptococci. Journal of Applied Bacteriology , 56 , 175–177.
The combined destructive effect of ultrasonic waves and heating on microorganisms has been investigated using as a model two species of thermoduric streptococci. Ultrasonic and heat treatments applied simultaneously were much more destructive than the additive effect of the two agents considered independently. Compared with heat alone, the simultaneous application of ultrasonic vibration and heat reduced the resistance of the organisms 6–11.fold.     

Data distribution in public veterinary service: health and safety challenges push for context-aware systems

Background

Today’s globalised and interconnected world is characterized by intertwined and quickly evolving relationships between animals, humans and their environment and by an escalating number of accessible data for public health. The public veterinary services must exploit new modeling and decision strategies to face these changes. The organization and control of data flows have become crucial to effectively evaluate the evolution and safety concerns of a given situation in the territory. This paper discusses what is needed to develop modern strategies to optimize data distribution to the stakeholders.

Main text

If traditionally the system manager and knowledge engineer have been concerned with the increase of speed of data flow and the improvement of data quality, nowadays they need to worry about data overflow as well. To avoid this risk an information system should be capable of selecting the data which need to be shown to the human operator. In this perspective, two aspects need to be distinguished: data classification vs data distribution. Data classification is the problem of organizing data depending on what they refer to and on the way they are obtained; data distribution is the problem of selecting which data is accessible to which stakeholder. Data classification can be established and implemented via ontological analysis and formal logic but we claim that a context-based selection of data should be integrated in the data distribution application. Data distribution should provide these new features: (a) the organization of situation types distinguishing at least ordinary vs extraordinary scenarios (contextualization of scenarios); (b) the possibility to focus on the data that are really important in a given scenario (data contextualization by scenarios); and (c) the classification of which data is relevant to which stakeholder (data contextualization by users).

Short conclusion

Public veterinary services, to efficaciously and efficiently manage the information needed for today’s health and safety challenges, should contextualize and filter the continuous and growing flow of data by setting suitable frameworks to classify data, users’ roles and possible situations.

     

A note on the use of the non-central t-distribution in setting numerical microbiological specifications for foods

An exact procedure is described and used to determine k values and probabilities of rejection used in the application of variables sampling plans to foods. Comparison of quantities so obtained to those calculated by Kilsby et al. (1979), who used an approximation procedure, reveals that for small samples the approximation can lead to probabilities of rejection which are larger than those obtained using the exact procedure. It is recommended that the exact procedure be used in the application of these plans.     

重组定点突变巴曲酶质量标准研究

目的 建立重组定点突变巴曲酶的质控方法和质量标准.方法 生物学活性测定采用血浆凝集活性测定法;通过胰蛋白酶消化和RP-HPLC法分析该蛋白还原型肽图;其余检测项目均按<中华人民共和国药典>2010年版(三部)相关规定进行.结果 用建立的方法对三批重组定点突变巴曲酶原液和成品进行检定,各项指标均符合2010版<中华人民共和国药典>和相应指导原则的要求.三批原液比活性均≥2000 kU/mg.肽图三批次之间一致,原液的蛋白含量、纯度、分子质量、等电点、N末端氨基酸序列等指标均符合规定.结论 建立的质控方法可有效地控制重组定点突变巴曲酶产品质量,并可用于定点突变巴曲酶原液及成品的常规检定.     

小菜蛾饲养技术与规范

小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)是一种世界性危害的十字花科蔬菜重要害虫,其抗药性问题尤为突出。目前,小菜蛾已成为害虫抗药性等多个研究领域的重要研究对象,而小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养是开展相关研究的基础。针对目前小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养技术存在不规范、不科学、不标准等问题,本文重点介绍了本实验室成熟系统的小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养方法——甘蓝萝卜苗法。该方法简单、易操作、实用性强,因此,可以作为一种小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养的技术规范在全国范围内推广。     

Design of beta-sheet systems for understanding the thermodynamics and kinetics of protein folding

Peptide beta-sheet systems have emerged as context-independent models for probing secondary structure propensities, the nature and magnitude of stabilizing weak interactions, and aspects of cooperativity both parallel and perpendicular to the strand direction. These systems have allowed fundamental advances in understanding non-covalent interactions relevant to both chemical and biological systems, and in describing the protein folding energy landscape.     

Design and applications of methods for fluorescence detection of iron in biological systems

Fluorescence metalosensors provide a means to detect iron in biological systems that is versatile, economical, sensitive and of a high-throughput nature. They rely on relatively high-affinity iron-binding carriers conjugated to highly fluorescent probes that undergo quenching after metal complexation. Metal specificity is determined by probes containing either an iron-binding moiety of high affinity (type A) or of relatively lower affinity (type B) used in combination with a strong specific iron chelator. Due to the heterogeneous nature of biological systems, the apparent metal-binding affinity and complexation stoichiometry ought to be specifically defined. Fluoresceinated moieties coupled to metal-binding cores detect Fe at sub-micromolar concentrations and even sub-microlitre volumes (i.e. cells). Although an ideal probe should also be specific for a particular oxidation state of iron, in physiological conditions that property might be difficult to attain. Quantification of labile iron in cells has relied on the ability of permeant iron chelators to restore the fluorescence of probes quenched by intracellular Fe. Modern design of probes aims to (a) improve probe targeting to specific cell compartments and (b) create probes that respond to metal binding by signal enhancement.     

On the physics of the symbol--matter problem in biological systems and the origin of life: affine Hilbert spaces model of the robustness of the internal quantum dynamics of biological systems

In the present paper, some physical considerations of the biological symbol-matter problem is exposed. First of all, the physical concept of quantum dynamical internal measuremental robustness is discussed. In this context, the significance of introducing affine molecular Hilbert spaces, the original (primordeal) internal quantum measurement, and the global constraining nature of time-inversion symmetry restoring, as a special restoration force, is discussed at some length. It is pointed out, as a summary, that global robustness of the internal dynamics of quantum measurements is due to two basic factors: on one hand, the global constraining nature of the chosen specific (symmetry-) restoring force, and on the other, the individual robustness of the discrete local internal measuremental interactions. The second condition is supposed to follow from a system-internalised ("objective") Bohr-type Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, corresponding, in an external context, to the Generalized Complementarity Principle of Bohr and Elsasser. It is not claimed, however, that this latter problem has been, as yet, satisfactorily settled physically. In fact, if it were, it would amount to a specifically biological quantum theory of internal measurement, which had to be rooted in the original primordeal global internal measurement, amounting to the origin of the genetic code.     

Melatonin in circadian sleep disorders in the blind

Assessment of sleep patterns in blind people demonstrates a high prevalence of sleep disorders. Our studies have shown that subjects with no conscious light perception (NPL) have a higher occurrence and more severe sleep disorders than those with some degree of light perception (LP). A detailed study of 49 blind individuals showed that those with NPL are likely to have free-running (FR) circadian rhythms (aMT6s, cortisol) including sleep. Non-24-hour (or FR) sleep-wake disorder, characterised by periods of good and bad sleep is a condition that may benefit from melatonin treatment. Melatonin has been administered to NPL subjects with FR circadian rhythms and compared with placebo (or the no-treatment baseline) sleep parameters improved. The results suggest that prior knowledge of the subject's type of circadian rhythm, and timing of treatment in relation to the individual's circadian phase, may improve the efficacy of melatonin.