A distributed knowledge-based approach to flexible automation: The contract net framework

This article applied distributed artificial intelligence to the real-time planning and control of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) consisting of asynchronous manufacturing cells. A knowledge-based approach is used to determine the course of action, resource sharing, and processor assignments. Within each cell there is an embedded automatic planning system that executes dynamic scheduling and supervises manufacturing operations. Because of the decentralized control, real-time task assignments are carried out by a negotiation process among cell hosts. The negotiation process is modeled by augmented Petri nets —the combination of production rules and Petri nets—and is excuted by a distributed, rule-based algorithm.     

Internal seiches in Lake Constance: influence on plankton abundance at a fixed sampling site

During thermal stratification, pronounced internal seiches occurin Lake Constance with periods of 4–6 days The amplitudesreach 12 m at the sampling site in berlinger See (northwesternpart of Lake Constance). Seiches change the thickness of thewarm and generally biologically rich epilimnion and, thus, alsothe areal abundance of planktonic organisms at a fixed samplingsite. The potential impact of seiche-dnven changes of epilimneticthickness on observed plankton abundance was calculated usingcontinuously recorded temperature profiles and weekly verticalprofiles of plankton biomass. Observed plankton biomass wasrecalculated by taking into account the effect of changing layerthickness in order to give a more realistic picture of biomasschanges caused by waxing and waning of populations Our calculationsimply that changes of strata thickness do not mask the generalseasonal trend in population dynamics (e g. spring bloom andclear water phase), estimates of average yearly standing stockare not significantly affected if sampling is done at leastweekly. However, changes of strata thickness can alter arealplankton abundance at the sampling site by a factor of 2 within2 days During pronounced seiches, areal abundance of phytoplankton,which generally exhibit a stronger vertical gradient than-mostother plankton, may be changed by a factor of 3–4 withinhours Hence, at our sampling site, the impact of changes instrata thickness cannot be ignored for detailed analysis ofpopulation dynamics of autotrophs involving comparisons betweensingle observations     

Stimulation of insulin release from pancreatic islets by quinones

Coenzyme Q (CoQ₀) and other quinones were shown to be potent insulin secretagogues in the isolated pancreatic islet. The order of potency was CoQ₀benzoquinonehydroquinonemenadione. CoQ₆ and CoQ₁₀ (ubiquinone), duroquinone and durohydroquinone did not stimulate insulin release. CoQ₀'s insulinotropism was enhanced in calcium-free medium and CoQ₀ appeared to stimulate only the second phase of insulin release. CoQ₀ inhibited inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphate formation. Inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration (rotenone, antimycin A, FCCP and cyanide) and the calcium channel blocker verapamil, did not inhibit CoQ₀-induced insulin release. Dicumarol, an inhibitor of quinone reductase, did not inhibit CoQ₀-induced insulin release, but it did inhibit glucose-induced insulin release suggesting that the enzyme and quinones play a role in glucose-induced insulin release. Quinones may stimulate insulin release by mimicking physiologically-occuring quinones, such as CoQ₁₀, by acting on the plasma membrane or in the cytosol. Exogenous quinones may bypass the quinone reductase reaction, as well as many reactions important for exocytosis.     

The Isolation and Evaluation of Two Naturally Occurring Mild Strains of Vanilla Necrosis Potyvirus for Control by Cross-Protection

In an attempt to find mild virus strains that would cross-protect sgainst vanilla necrosis potyvirus (VNPV), Vanilla fragrans plants in Tonga were surveyed for the presence of mild or symptomless potyvirus infections. Potyviruses were detected by indirect ELISA using a commercially available portyvirus group monoclonal anibody. From 28 plants with mild or symptomless infections two portyvirus isolates, designated V1 and V3, included systemic infections in Nicotiana benthamiana following mechanical inoculation. V1, which causes a mild mottle in N. benthamiana, is serologically related to VNPV, while V3 which causes mild vein banding is serologically unrelated to VNPV. Prior inoculation with V1 protected N. benthamiana against the severe mosaic symptoms of VNPV when challenge inoculated after 14 and 21 days, but not after 7 days. When V3 was used as the protecting strain, cross-protection was observed in some, but not all plants, when chalenged with VNPV after 14 and 21 days.     

Whole-embryo culture of Drosophila : development of embryonic tissues in vitro

Summary We have devised techniques to culture whole, dissected embryos of Drosophila melanogaster. We examine multiple aspects of the morphological and physiological development of the epidermis, musculature, nervous system, and internal organs in this cultured preparation, and show that in vitro development closely parallels normal embryogenesis. These techniques permit a wide range of experimental manipulations during embryogenesis and allow us to extend observations through late embryonic stages, after cuticle deposition. Applications of this technique are presented.     

Ultrastructure of organelles during microsporogenesis inTillandsia pallidoflavens (Bromeliaceae)

InTillandsia pallidoflavens none of the organelles undergoes fundamental de- and redifferentiation during microsporogenesis. The plastids are amoeboid, exhibit complex internal structures and gradually start accumulating polysaccharides from meiotic prophase I onwards. These observations contradict reports for other taxa. The ultrastructure of mitochondria and dictyosomes, respectively, is more or less orthodox. The extensive ER, which is only poorly stained by standard methods was identified by image intensifiying techniques. The ribosomes are not only associated with the ER or occur as polyribosomes free in the cytoplasm, but can also form more or less dense clusters.     

Vernonia galamensis,Potential new crop source of epoxy acid

Vernonia galamensis is a good source of seed oil rich in epoxy acid, which can be used to manufacture plastic formulations, protective coatings, and other products. Seed from a natural stand in Ethiopia contained 31% epoxy acid. Under cultivation in Kenya, this unimproved germplasm produced a substantial yield of seed with 32% epoxy acid. This African species has good natural seed retention and is a promising new crop for semiarid tropical areas.     

Nucleotide sequence and evolution of the orangutan ε globin gene region and surrounding Alu repeats

Summary We have mapped and sequenced the globin gene and seven surrounding Alu repeat sequences in the orangutan globin gene cluster and have compared these and other orangutan sequences to orthologously related human sequences. Noncoding flanking and intron sequences, synonymous sites of , , and globin coding regions, and Alu sequences in human and orangutan diverge by 3.2%, 2.7%, and 3.7%, respectively. These values compare to 3.6% from DNA hybridizations and 3.4% from the globin gene region. If as suggested by fossil evidence and molecular clock calculations, human and orangutan lineages diverged about 10–15 MYA, the rate of noncoding DNA evolution in the two species is 1.0–1.5×10^–9 substitutions per site per year. We found no evidence for either the addition or deletion of Alu sequences from the globin gene cluster nor is there any evidence for recent concerted evolution among the Alu sequences examined. Both phylogenetic and phenetic distance analyses suggest that Alu sequences within the and globin gene clusters arose close to the time of simian and prosimian primate divergence (about 50–60 MYA). We conclude that Alu sequences have been evolving at the rate typical of noncoding DNA for the majority of primate history.Presented at the FEBS Symposium on Genome Organization and Evolution, held in Crete, Greece, September 1–5, 1986