An efficient genetic algorithm for single row facility layout

The single row facility layout is the NP-Hard problem of arranging facilities with given lengths on a line, so as to minimize the weighted sum of the distances between all pairs of facilities. Owing to its computational complexity, researchers have developed several heuristics to obtain good quality solutions. In this paper, we present a genetic algorithm called GENALGO to solve large single row facility layout problem instances. Our algorithm uses standard genetic operators and periodically improves the fitness of all individuals. Our computational experiments show that our genetic algorithm yields high quality solutions in spite of starting with an initial population that is randomly generated. Our algorithm improves the previously best known solutions for the 19 instances of 58 benchmark instances and is competitive for most of the remaining ones.     

Direct radioimmunoassay of serum progesterone using heterologous bridge tracer and antibody

The standardisation of a direct radioimmunoassay for progesterone using an¹²⁵I labeled progesterone prepared by iodinating the tyrosine methyl ester (TME) conjugated to a progesterone hemiphthalate derivative and an antibody prepared using progesterone linked to bovine serum albumin through 11α hemisuccinate derivative is described. The hemiphthalate derivative of progesterone was prepared by reacting 11α-hydroxy progesterone with phthalic anhydride which was then conjugated to TME by using isobutyl chloroformate. The conjugate was iodinated with¹²⁵I using chloramine-T as oxidising agent and purified by thin layer chromatography. Radiochemical purity of the tracer was >95% in all batches. The tracer gave 70–75% binding with excess antibody. Assays were optimised with 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulphonic acid (ANS) and sodium salicylate as blocking agents to release the progesterone from binding proteins. The assay optimised with sodium salicylate as blocking agent has a sensitivity of 0.25 ng/ml and a working range of 0.25–50 ng/ml, whereas the assay with ANS has a sensitivity of 0.75 ng/ml and a working range of 0.75–100 ng/ml. Serum samples were analysed and compared with the values obtained with a homologous bridge assay.     

Rapid and reliable method for the analysis of nucleotide pools by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and reliable protocol for the simultaneous separation of ribo-, deoxyribo- and cyclic nucleotides has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography on a C18 microBondapak column and isocratic elution with ammonium phosphate buffer 0.2 m, pH 5.1). Resolution of deoxyribonucleotides has been confirmed by performing resolution before and after periodate oxidation. The general order of elution is ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides and cyclic nucleotides. While periodate oxidation improved the clarity of separation of deoxyribonucleotides by eliminating ribonucleotides, incorporation of methanol in the eluent shortened the retention time of cyclic nucleotides. The application of this method to a complex biological system is reported.     

Correlation analysis of structure and reactivity in the oxidation of substituted benzyl alcohols by bis(2,2′-bipyridyl) copper(II) permanganate

The oxidation of substituted benzyl alcohols by bis(2,2′-bipyridyl) copper(II) permanganate (BBCP), leading to the corresponding benzaldehydes is first-order with respect to BBCP. Michaelis-Menten type kinetics were observed with respect to the alcohols. The oxidation of a,a-dideuteriobenzyl alcohol indicated the presence of a substantial kinetic isotope effect. The rates of oxidation of meta- and para-substituted benzyl alcohols were correlated in terms of Charton's triparametric LDR equation whereas ortho- substituted benzyl alcohols were correlated with a four parametric LDRS equation. The results of correlation analyses point to an electron-deficient reaction center in the transition state. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 9–16, 1997.     

A model for the phonon frequency distribution function for crystalline polyethylene

A model for the phonon frequency distribution function of crystalline polyethylene has been developed considering the mass of the vibrating unit to be two methylene groups and distinguishing between the ‘hard’ longitudinal and transverse dispersive modes. It explains the temperature variation of specific heat of polyethylene and can be used for other studies.     

The proteome of maize leaves: use of gene sequences and expressed sequence tag data for identification of proteins with peptide mass fingerprints.

As a first step in establishing a proteome database for maize, we have embarked on the identification of the leaf proteins resolved on two-dimensional (2-D) gels. We detected nearly 900 spots on the gels with a pH 4-7 gradient and over 200 spots on the gels with a pH 6-11 gradient when the proteins were visualized with colloidal Coomassie blue. Peptide mass fingerprints for 300 protein spots were obtained with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer and 149 protein spots were identified using the protein databases. We also searched the pdbEST databases to identify the leaf proteins and verified 66% of the protein spots that had been identified using the protein databases. Sixty-seven additional protein spots were identified from expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Many abundant leaf proteins are present in multiple spots. Functions of over 50% of the abundant leaf proteins are either unknown or hypothetical. Our results show that EST databases in conjunction with peptide mass fingerprints can be used for identifying proteins from organisms with incomplete genome sequence information.     

A Comprehensive Stability Study of Vardenafil Using Quality by Design Approach

Chromatographia - A novel, dual gradient LC method for quantification of vardenafil (VR) and its degradant products was developed with a multivariate approach. In the QbD approach, primary...