Knowledge-based manpower planning

The capacity performance of knowledge-based systems differs essentially from the one of traditional systems. The result is that already today these systems are employed in a number of application areas, and that the intensity of research and development in this field is very high.In this paper the development of a knowledge-based manpower planning system (KBMS) is described. The two main components of this system are a knowledge-based system developed for management planning and a model designed for manpower planning in personnel leasing companies. This model was realized as a KBMPS by applying the knowledge-based system, which was developed for management planning.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations of gear-rattling

Rattling vibrations in gear boxes are a noise problem of modern cars following the requirement to be as quiet as possible. The paper presents an uniform approach to model such vibrations based on classical impact theory and applying modern methods of topological dynamics. Some comparisons of theory and measurements utilizing a test set-up of a rattling machine are presented. They demonstrate the practical relevancy of the presented theory.     

E-learning technologies: employing Matlab web server to facilitate the education of mathematical programming

This paper presents new web-based educational software (webNetPro) for Linear Network Programming. It includes many algorithms for Network Optimization problems, such as shortest path problems, minimum spanning tree problems, maximum flow problems and other search algorithms. Therefore, webNetPro can assist the teaching process of courses such as Graph Theory or Network Optimization, Algorithms or Data Structures. Since the Matlab web server is part of the underlying infrastructure, the end user need not use Matlab directly. The approach exploits transparently the benefits of the Matlab programming environment through a straightforward web interface. Furthermore, webNetPro is platform independent. Thus, it can be viewed as a powerful supplement to traditional instruction techniques and can be used without significant difficulties in distance education. Benefits and drawbacks are thoroughly described in order to support the significance of this tool in distance learning.     

Effect of three-body forces on the lattice dynamics of noble metals

A simple method to generate an effective electron-ion interaction pseudopotential from the energy wave number characteristic obtained by first principles calculations has been suggested. This effective potential has been used, in third order perturbation, to study the effect of three-body forces on the lattice dynamics of noble metals. It is found that three-body forces, in these metals, do play an important role. The inclusion of such three-body forces appreciably improves the agreement between the experimental and theoretical phonon dispersion curves.     

Experimental calibration and field investigation of the oxygen isotopic fractionation between biogenic aragonite and water

Marine molluscs have long been recognised as potential records of palaeoclimate change using the patterns and differences in the stable isotopic composition of the carbonate shells. The aim of this study is to improve the robustness of this approach for aragonitic molluscs by completing the first experimental calibration of the fractionation between water and biogenic aragonite. Fractionation factors were calibrated by growing specimens of the freshwater mollusc Lymnaea peregra under controlled conditions of water temperature and isotopic composition. Fifteen populations of L. peregra were maintained at constant temperature and isotopic conditions for five months (at five different temperatures and using three different water compositions). Water samples and temperature measurements were taken regularly throughout the experiment. The temperature dependence of the fractionation factor, between 8 and 24 degrees C, is given by: 1000 ln alpha=16.74x(1000T(-1))-26.39 (T in Kelvin) and the relationship between temperature (T), delta(18)O(carb) and delta(18)O(wat) is given by: T=21.36-4.83xdelta(+ degrees )O(carb)-delta(+ degrees )O(wat) (T is in degrees C, delta(18)O(carb) is with respect to Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (PDB), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) replacement standard for PDB, and delta(18)O(wat) is with respect to Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW)) The outcome of the controlled experiment is compared with previous studies on synthetic, and biogenic, calcite and aragonite from field and laboratory investigations. These comparisons suggest that although a vital offset exists between the fractionation of isotopes in synthetic and biogenic aragonite for molluscs in general, there is no vital effect that is specific either to freshwater, or to individual, genera. Therefore, the calibrated relationship may be used for any freshwater or marine mollusc to derive palaeotemperatures providing the isotopic composition of the environmental water can be reliably constrained. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element convergence study for shear-thinning flow problems

The solution of the non-linear set of equations arising from the application of the finite element method to non-Newtonian fluid flow problems often requires large amounts of computer time. Four iteration schemes (Picard, Newton-Raphson, Broyden and Dominant Eigenvalue method) are compared in three different flow geometries using a shear-thinning fluid model. Points of comparison involve the computer time necessary to converge the equations, ease of implementation, radius of convergence and rate of convergence.     

Solid-phase synthesis and spectroscopic studies of TRH analogues incorporating cis- and trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline.

An efficient solid-phase synthesis of the TRH analogue Glp-His(Nim-Trt)-Hyp-OH is described. Na-Fmoc protected amino acids and DCC/HOBt activation were employed. The bulky and mild-acid-sensitive 2-chlorotrityl resin, utilised as the solid support, completely suppressed dioxopiperazine formation. The tripeptide is a key intermediate in the synthesis of TRH analogues incorporating cis- and trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline. The tripeptide was converted, with inversion of configuration at C-4 of the Hyp residue, to Glp-His(Nim-Trt)-cHyp lactone in the presence of triphenylphosphine-diethyl azodicarboxylate (TPP-DEAD). One-pot MeOH-TPP-DEAD transesterification of the lactone, followed by Nim-detritylation, provided Glp-His-cHyp-OMe. This ester gave the corresponding amide and acid on ammonolysis and saponification, respectively. A high-field 1H NMR investigation of Glp-His-cHyp-OH and its diastereomer Glp-His-Hyp-OH, obtained by Nim-detritylation of the key tripeptide, showed that the configuration at C-4 of the prolyl residues is critical for the determination of the preferred three-dimensional structure of the molecules.     

DNA targeted UVA photosensitization: characterization of an extremely photopotent iodinated minor groove binding DNA ligand

Previous studies have described UVA-induced DNA strand breakage at the binding sites of iodinated DNA minor groove binding bisbenzimidazoles. The DNA breakage, presumably mediated by the carbon-centred ligand radical produced by photodehalogenation, was also shown to be cytotoxic. The earlier studies included a comparison of three ligand isomers, designated ortho-, meta- and para-iodoHoechst, and the efficiency of photo-induction of strand breaks in plasmid DNA proved to be much higher for the ortho-isomer. We have now extended the comparison of the three isomers with respect to photo-induced cytotoxicity in K562 cells. Although the relationship between the extent of nuclear uptake and the concentration of the ligand in the medium was similar for the three isomers, assay of in situ dehalogenation in drug-treated cells indicated that the apparent cross-section for dehalogenation of the ortho-isomer was greater than 5-fold higher than that for the meta- and para-isomers. Also, analysis of clonogenic survival data showed that the dehalogenation event associated with ortho-iodoHoechst was a more efficient mediator of UVA-induced cytotoxicity in K562 cells than that for meta- or para-iodoHoechst. The number of dehalogenation events associated with 50% cell-kill for ortho-iodoHoechst (1.23+/-0.04 x 10(4)) was less than that for the para- (3.92+/-0.29 x 10(4)) and meta- (11.6+/-0.90 x 10(4)) isomers. Thus it is concluded that the photopotency of ortho-iodoHoechst, which is an important feature in the context of its potential use in clinical phototherapy, is due not only to more efficient UVA-mediated dehalogenation of the ligand, but also to greater cytotoxic potency per dehalogenation event.     

Diagnosis of magnetoresponsive aromatic and antiaromatic zones in three‐membered rings of d‐ and f‐block elements

Magnetoresponsive three‐membered rings of d‐ and f‐block elements have been thoroughly investigated with the help of electronic structure calculation methods. The magnetic response of the clusters was evaluated by the Nucleus Independent Chemical Shifts (NICS)_zz‐scan curves, which in conjunction with symmetry‐based selection rules for the most significant translationally and rotationally allowed transitions helped rationalize and predict the orbital‐type of aromaticity/antiaromaticity of the clusters. The magnetoresponsive early (Groups 3, 4, and 5) transition metal M₃ rings exhibit successive aromatic and antiaromatic zones separated by a nodal plane. The magnetoresponsive late (Groups 11 and 12) transition metal M₃ rings exhibit long‐range aromatic zone with the NICS_zz(R) values decaying rapidly and monotonically with respect to R. The magnetic response of Group 10 transition metal M₃ rings is similar to that of the early transition metal M₃ rings, but it is long‐range antiaromatic only for the [c‐Ni₃] cluster. The NICS_zz‐scan curve of the [(H_tLa)₃(μ₂‐H)₆] cluster is indicative of weak pure σ‐aromaticity due to the induced diatropic ring current from the translationally allowed a → e′ and e′ → a transitions. The aromatic–antiaromatic behavior of the [(H_tCe)₃(μ₂‐H)₆]⁺ and [(H_tTm)₃(μ₂‐H)₆]²⁻ clusters is similar to that of the early d‐block elements. The magnetic response of [(H_tYb)₃(μ₂‐H)₆]³⁻ is similar to that of [c‐Hg₃]²⁻. The [(H_tLu)₃(μ₂‐H)₆] cluster can be considered as a doubly (σ + π) aromatic system, with the σ‐aromatic component being much stronger than the π‐aromatic one. Finally, the [(X_tRe)₃(μ₂‐X)₆] and [(X_tRu)₃(μ₂‐X)₆]⁺ (X = Cl, Br, I) clusters exhibit significant aromatic character with the greatest contribution to the induced diatropic ring currents coming from π‐type transitions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010